As a season closer, 8-Bit is enough is all that you could want from a Strong Bad game. Filled with references to earlier episodes, better and more polished gameplay, and as epic of a story as could be expected.

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 half the price of the PC version and comes with a few extra maps after the original campaign is over, adding even more value where, in all honesty, none was needed.

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.

Despite a few setbacks and no huge gameplay advancements, Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 is exactly what a good handheld game should be. It’s good for long sessions at home or short games on the go, but once you start playing, you will not want to stop.

The developers took a huge chance by placing their game in a genre rife with games that did nothing but wash, rinse, repeat for years, but by creating an incredibly compelling narrative, coupled with some new strides in gameplay, Visceral Games set a new bar for the rail shooter. Not only did they prove that rail shooters could be more than generic shoot ‘em ups, they also showed that they were a developer to be reckoned with.

NBA 2K10 maintains its dominance of basketball video games once again, and the developers are clearly not resting on their laurels.

Some people might be surprised by the high score given to this game. However, when you look at the whole package, you have a second game in a series that brings improved gameplay, better graphics, and many additional features—all for a lovely $39.99 retail price point.

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.

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.

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.

When races go well, it's white knuckle action from beginning to end. Sadly, issues often make it so "going well" isn't always in the cards, and anyone ever upset by a Blue Shell in Mario Kart will spent a lot of time huffing and puffing during Blur races.

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.

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

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

Hardcore enthusiasts who are looking for a serious challenge will not be disappointed in the least.

It’s hard not to become engrossed by the characters and their story, but that’s not the only reason you’ll keep on playing. The combined gameplay styles work well together to provide players with enough variation that the game doesn’t become too repetitive, save for the times you’ll die and have to replay lengthier portions of the game.

Castle Crashers reaches for the stars and actually manages to grab hold, but immediately stutters, lags, freezes, and drops out of the sky.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Athena is a suitable sequel to one of last generations best action games, but it fails to innovate in any way. With all the exact same controls, the disc feels more like an expansion pack than a proper sequel, but the graphical upgrades and multiplayer modes ensure that it’s not a rip-off in any way. It’s not nearly the eye-opening experience that its predecessor was, but it’s still a solid stealth title with excellent presentation that’s worth checking out.

For fans of the original game, this is easily the best version of Marvel vs. Capcom 2. The improved visuals help make it feel like a 2-year-old game instead of a 9-year-old game, the online play is phenomenal, and the price ($15) an excellent value for a game that costs at least $90 for a used Dreamcast copy.

Whether you’ve played through the other two downloadable packs, or you’ve been waiting them out in favor of “Broken Steel,” this new addition is well worth the time and money. Hopefully there’s more to come, but even if there isn’t, at least Bethesda gave gamers a much more satisfying conclusion for their character.

Strong Badia the Free has some great gameplay ideas without proper implementation. As soon as it starts to get into a proper rhythm there’s a confusing portion that drives it to a deal halt, and some of the best sections of the game don’t pay off as well as they should, especially considering the Homestar Runner license.

Between the local and online multiplayer, as well as the plethora of single-player challenges available, this is the kind of game that has a ton of replay value. No, it’s not an overhaul, but it is an extremely solid entry in the series that lives up to the Mario Kart name.

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.

Though it has its silly side, and the side is definitely prevalent, the game is well balanced and has a good amount of depth that should keep fans of the series happy.

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.

Microsoft may not have crafted the finest RTS of the year, much less the generation, but they set out to make a fully functional RTS that is optimized for consoles, and in that, they’ve succeeded.

Motorstorm: Pacific Rift improves on many of its predecessor’s shortcomings without losing any of what worked so well the first time around. In addition to the visual treats it offers, there’s enough speed, competition, and, yes, strategy, to keep players coming back for more insane, off-road action.

There is plenty of content, several different multiplayer modes, and a large amount of replayability.

At the end of the day, playing a game that so closely mimics the real thing is all you can hope for. Out of the Park 9 is hands down one of the best baseball sims I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I can’t wait to finish this review so I can play more.

It might be worth it for those who really want to see items added into a traditional racer, but for everyone else, it's likely worth trying before committing to a purchase.

If Killzone 2 is proof that the PlayStation 3 is the powerhouse of the console market, than Resistance: Retribution succeeds in moving that claim to the PSP.

Believe me, no one is more shocked than I am about how much I love playing this game. At $60, it is right up there with other high-end PS3 titles, but is one of the best exclusives the system has to offer.

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.

Saints Row 2 feels like Volition stole the code from a GTA game, dumbed it down by 10%, then let a bunch of 12 year olds decide what kind of stuff you can do in it. I mean this in a good way, and honestly, I wish more games would take this approach.

It's not bad, per se, there just isn't enough of it.

Is it too soon to ask for Dangeresque 4? This most recent episode has restored much of my faith in the license, one that I felt was strangely being wasted by misdirected game design. Whatever issues Telltale faced early on seem to have been addressed, and the polish of this episode shines through the past few missteps.

This is the first chance Americans have gotten to see where this classic franchise got its start, and upon playing it, it’s easy to see how it became so beloved.

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.

While multiplayer is a disappointment, the underlying puzzle game is one that is both challenging and entertaining. It's also pretty difficult not to fall in love with the adorable cast of characters.

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.

All in all, it feels like the beginning of what might be a fantastic franchise.

While it lacks certain elements that would have made it more memorable, the sleek gameplay and beautiful graphics represent a stellar example of genres melting together, something which too often fails in execution. After completing the game, a second play though is opened, turning up the difficulty and starting the story anew, something that many gamers will likely end up taking advantage of.

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

Whether you’ve played through the other two downloadable packs, or you’ve been waiting them out in favor of “Broken Steel,” this new addition is well worth the time and money. Hopefully there’s more to come, but even if there isn’t, at least Bethesda gave gamers a much more satisfying conclusion for their character.

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

Its solid controls and wonderful presentation make this game an incredibly tough act to follow. MadWorld is easily a must own for anybody who has the system. If you don’t have a Wii… well… it sucks to be you because you’re really missing out.

The entire package presents some of the best Borderlands' gameplay to date, and this first batch of downloadable content is more entertaining than any plot-arc on the disk.

EA Sports Active has not jumped on any bandwagons; instead, it has set a new bar for what exercise games should be. After one week, I can already see and feel results, and I have every intention of finishing out my 30-day challenge, as well as sticking with it beyond the initial 30-day period.

It may seem like an example of how a game can stand out by being the biggest fish in a small pond, but even when compared to similar titles on other consoles, LostWinds holds up.

I generally like games to focus as much on story as they do on the fighting, but the fact that this is so mission-heavy is one of the things that distinguishes it from its predecessor.

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

Midnight Club: Los Angeles just might be the best racing game to come out this year.

Considering that Tiger Woods ’09 is being hailed as the greatest golf game ever released for the 360 and PS3, it is truly depressing that the Wii port is such a mess.

It’s fast, original, and beautiful – everything you should expect from a holiday blockbuster. If you’re easily frustrated by difficult games it might be wise to rent it first, but be warned; the beauty and addictive race modes might pull you in for a purchase.

It’s easily the best game in the series, and well worth playing, but one has to wonder how many more times THQ can get away with ever-so-slightly improving what is, essentially, the same game.

Ninja Gaiden II is essentially a much prettier version of Ninja Gaiden with a few tweaks and a slightly less punishing challenge level (at least on the normal difficulty levels – there are two unlockable difficulties that give me nightmares). For fans of the original, there’s nothing here to prevent you from loving this one as well.

It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed playing an NBA Live title as much as this one. EA Canada has taken huge steps to create one of the most impressive and enjoyable basketball titles in recent years, and if they’re able to continue and improve upon the core mechanics they’ve instituted this year, Live just might usurp NBA 2K’s throne in another year or two.

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.

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.

The later of the 20 unique levels can grow frustratingly difficult, but the amount of replayability due to different challenges and scoreboards are more than enough to justify picking it up, or at least buying it when it eventually makes its way to Xbox Live.

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?

While Dragon Quest IV doesn’t offer anything overwhelmingly new or unique, it’s a solid RPG experience that any fan of the genre will have fun playing.

There’s so much to do that it feels overwhelming at first, with so many missions, classes, students begging you for favors, and ladies looking for romance. Once you’ve spent a little time at Bullworth, though, you’ll learn how to manage your time wisely and get things done the way you want to.

Tekken 6 doesn’t try to reinvent the fighting game, or even change the Tekken formula too much. It does, however, deliver a gorgeous, extremely solid 3D fighting experience with plenty of customization options.

I was very surprised by how much fun I had with Rocket Riot. I generally don’t love two-stick shooters, but I was quickly won over by the art style, destructible environments, and humorous gameplay.

Wrestling games haven’t changed much since the Smackdown series started, but this year’s offering is easily the most robust and well-produced.

Some of the dialogue had me laughing hysterically and some of the puzzles had great payoffs. I may sound negative, but it is just because of my expectations.

High production values take the game to a level of quality usually unreached on the Nintendo DS, and the game’s sound and graphics, while a little bit dated, help the battles from becoming too chaotic and move the game’s story along.

A major improvement of its predecessor, and is well worth the price of admission, considering the amount of bloody fun to be had.

It’s enjoyable, and brings back nostalgic memories of playing the original Space Invaders in arcades (because I was too young to know that the game was already fifteen years old). However, Space Invaders Extreme is easily overshadowed by two comparable XBLA games: Geometry Wars 2 and Pac-Man Championship Edition.

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.

Introversion put a massive amount of heart into the Xbox Live port of their beloved RTS, and it shows.

Even without a plot, somewhat stunted multiplayer offerings, and a few issues with the game design, Pixeljunk Eden is definitely worth checking out.

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

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.

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.

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.

GT5: Prologue is amazing to look at, and the game handles like a dream. And while I'm excited to have a full garage of cars unlocked once GT5 releases, I wouldn't have minded waiting a bit longer for a more complete experience.

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 will absolutely help you become a healthier person, but you need to put in the work. There is no easy way out, and you're not going to lose weight or burn calories if you don't make the effort to actually exercise.

It may be a little too simple for most gamers, especially those old enough to remember the original, but it never stops being fun.

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 no questioning Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny’s technical acumen; it’s a brilliant fighting engine that looks amazing, sounds great, and plays just about perfectly. It’s just a shame that there’s really no good way to play it.

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

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

Being closer to the action gives each game a more intimate feel, and having Power Meters for each and every pass gives a more complete feeling of control.

EA Canada has taken huge steps to create one of the most impressive and enjoyable basketball titles in recent years, and if they’re able to continue and improve upon the core mechanics they’ve instituted this year, Live just might usurp NBA 2K’s throne in another year or two. It’s not quite there yet, though. Despite the vast improvements, it’s a bit rough around the edges.

I never expected Wii Fit to be a miraculous overnight weight loss product, and anyone looking for such a solution should spend his or her money elsewhere. Just like any kind of workout, you will actually need to stick with this one if you want to see results.

Bit.Trip.Core is a prime example of a downloadable game done right. It’s addictive, provides a challenge, and most importantly, it’s cheap.

The games constant rewards and simple gameplay make it extremely fun, and the price may be the highest on WiiWare, but that doesn’t mean it isn't more than worth the money.

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 WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 doesn’t reinvent the genre, it may be the best game in the series.

While the “Broken Steel” expansion may have reopened the game world, and had its fair share of huge action set pieces, “Point Lookout” really stands out as the best in the series so far.

It's not bad, per say, there just isn't enough of it. The inclusion of new characters for Mercenaries mode is good, but hardly worth picking up the pack for, unless, again, you happen to be a complete loyalist to the series.

It may take a little more patience than other games in the sandbox and beat ‘em up genres, but you’re rewarded with one of the most interesting stories, characters, and fun to use combat in gaming today.

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.

A good rhythm game that definitely exceeded my expectations. It’s fun and addictive, with plenty of venues, and though I would have liked to see less repetition in the tracklist, I still found myself saying “Just one more song” repeatedly.