Completionists will love the amount of things to find and collect, and with the unlockable Free Play mode and extra characters, the game has a fairly decent replay value. This game is a lot of fun, especially if you have someone nearby to play with.

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

Sadly, after playing this year’s other solid platformers (Braid, Lost Winds, De Blob), Wario Land Shake It! just doesn’t grab me by the shirt collar and demand I play it.

For fans of Darwinia, this game is an instant purchase, but I’d recommend waiting on the Arcade version for online play. For anyone on the fence, pick up the demo, and here’s hoping it gets the reaction on consoles it deserves.

Warhammer Online is the first MMORPG since World of Warcraft was released that actually holds a candle to it in terms of content.

Just as is the case with prequels, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed provides insight into the dark areas of the Star Wars Universe while being flawed in many ways.

For anyone who considers themselves a fan of the series I would recommend a purchase, there is definite replay value in repeating earlier levels with newly gained abilities, and many of the game’s flaws fade into the background when your character is powerful enough to dominate a level.

Warhead continues this tradition, bur has a slightly more coherent and focused story, even better gameplay and even more impressive graphics.

Yggdra Union is by no means the definitive tactical RPG experience, nor is it a perfect game. However, for all of my qualms, I found myself continually going back for more—and not just because I had to in order to review the game, but because I felt myself drawn to the strategy and enjoyed the satisfaction of victory.

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.

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.

"Rock Band" seemed like the definitive music game experience when it came out, and Rock Band 2 has taken it even further, fixing the few things that were wrong with the first and adding a little bit extra to boot.

Light on content, strategy, and presentation, this mediocre title fails to innovate in any real way, and instead strips away a lot of what has worked in the past.

The only thing more unbelievable than the fact that Zoids Assault is a full-priced title is that they advertise downloadable content on the back of the box.

With barely a visual hitch, exceptional presentation, engaging online, improved controls and an unmatched level of realism, there’s almost nothing to prevent a full recommendation to any fan of hockey or sports games in general. Even if you aren’t a fan of sports games, the game is so good it could turn you into one.

With barely a visual hitch, exceptional presentation, engaging online, improved controls and an unmatched level of realism, there’s almost nothing to prevent a full recommendation to any fan of hockey or sports games in general.

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.

I spent time with both hockey games this season, hoping that 2K could at least be considered a decent hockey simulation for those who still haven’t gone over to the EA side. Sadly, 2K can’t even hold its own against older versions of its own franchise, let alone a game as technically sound as NHL 09.

Weighing the minimal problems of Groovin' Blocks against the things it does right, I find that the game's benefits far outweigh its issues. Fans of not only rhythm games, but of old-school puzzlers will find plenty to fall in love with here.

The scope and scale of Spore is tremendous, bringing the story of life itself to gaming in a way that will not be replicated until a possible sequel.

Spore Creatures isn’t the shovelware I originally expected, but it isn’t much more than a cash-in on the PC version’s anticipated success. It isn't a bad game, it isn't a good game, it's just sort of there.

Other than the A+ character creation and the B+ graphics, the best thing about this game is the ever-so-busty ditz of a ring girl that shows up between rounds to semi-flash what’s under her robe.

It might be a little on the short end when compared to Square’s other JRPGs, but there is more than enough content to extend the game significantly. That said, anyone who isn’t already a fan of the genre will likely grow tired of the cliché locales and repetitive gameplay, as well as not being as forgiving of the game’s many other missteps either.

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.

With its threadbare narrative, unlikable characters, uninspired combat, and myriad technical issues, Mercenaries 2 is a huge disappointment. There’s some fun to be had blowing up buildings with a friend online, but playing through enough of the game to unlock these weapons is more of a chore than it’s worth.

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

The minor innovations and improvements aren’t flashy or particularly sexy, but they definitely enhance the experience and are all welcome additions to the series.

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.

In addition to the questionable controls, the main problem with this game is that there really aren’t any significant improvements over its predecessor, and definitely not any to make this game worth fifty bucks.

Die-hard rhythm game fans might get a kick out of this, but for the average gamer, there’s nothing here worth ten bucks.

Like I have mentioned before, the title isn’t without its many flaws and problems, but the good aspects of the title heavily outweigh the bad, and the amount of hate for the game seems disingenuous. That said; it feels like the game could have benefited from another year of development time, which might sound crazy given the game’s delays.

The Fable II Pub Games are sort of a strange case, as they are just barely games and in no way worth the $10 no matter how excited for Fable II you are.

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.

However, it appears that they weren't able to perfectly hit their stride in terms of puzzle creation, and this episode definitely has some of the early-season jitters that the first few episodes of Sam & Max had.

For fans of the series or the genre the purchase shouldn’t even be a question.

Braid is a game cut from the same cloth as "BioShock" and "Portal," erasing videogame norms and reimagining the way we look at the medium. It does things with gaming that are usually reserved for novels and films, while also adding elements that would be impossible in any other form. It’s is a game that makes you think about your own life as much as it does about gaming.

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

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.

The game is far from perfect, that is to be sure, and it does little to further the dwindling fighting game genre. That said, the additions that have been added work in the game’s favor and make it the best fighting game this generation.

The additions that have been added work in the game’s favor and make it the best fighting game this generation. The customization, online play, and great game mechanics make this title a must-purchase for any fan of the series.

There might be some gleaming light beyond the inch-deep layer of grime and poor design, but it isn’t worth looking for.

Easily one of the best horror games on any next-gen console thus far. Never mind the fact it’s easily one of the best downloadable games on any console period.

Fans of the original game owe it to themselves to pick up this extremely challenging remake, if only to test their skills.

EA touted that you would be able to download the names and positions of the actual players in the NCAA, but this hasn’t worked since day one.

There may be plenty of better options for anyone looking for an online shooter, but for the price Combat Arms is among the best around. It's fast, fun, brutal and addicting - what more could you ask for from a free FPS.

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

Despite its many flaws, Beijing 08 has a certain addictive quality to it. Some games, like many of the shooting and gymnastic events are a lot of fun, especially head to head, and it’s always a blast to wear out your thumbs in the many button mashing events.

If you didn’t like the previous Trauma Center games, there’s nothing that’s going to draw you in now, but for long-time fans or those who have been mildly curious about the series, Under the Knife 2 is a good choice.

If the game were actually simplified and released as a downloadable title for the Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, or Wiiware service it might be worth checking out, but as a full title, even at a discounted price, it isn’t worth the trip to the store.

Lackluster.

I can overlook the average graphics, the camera mechanics, and even the sub-par voice-acting. What I can’t accept is that the story, which was supposed to be the most interesting part of the game, is just plain boring.

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.

Aligning yourself with special interest groups, hiring different political aides, and participating in television interviews add even more depth to the already somewhat convoluted experience, but without these options it wouldn’t really feel like politics.

Something just doesn’t add up about it, and the real mystery in Alone in the Dark isn’t what happened in Central Park, but what happened inside of Atari’s offices.

Battlefield doesn’t put a scratch on Call of Duty 4 in either the multiplayer or single player departments, but it doesn’t really try to. Bad Company refuses to let you take it too seriously, and the constant humor and over-the-top gameplay blend together well to create a unique experience.

Probably the most realistic tennis sim ever created. Whether or not you’ll have any fun playing it is a matter of how willing you are to dedicate some time to mastering the game’s nuances and surprising level of depth.

I loved the PC version when I played it back in 2007 and thoroughly enjoyed some of the other Real-Time-Strategies I have played on the Xbox 360. Supreme Commander, however, is a fundamentally broken game.

Outside of the lack of songs, I had one major issue with Guitar Hero On Tour: portability. I tend to buy handheld games to play on train rides, or while flying. The combination of the cumbersome Guitar Grip, the non-ergonomic angle at which you hold the DS, and gameplay interface make this a game I was actually embarrassed to play in public. And if a handheld game can only be played at home, what’s the point?

The story is a snoozer, and without previous exposure to the characters and their world, it won’t make much sense. It’s also short, ugly, boring, tedious and unbalanced, and offers nothing new or innovative to the genre.

The problem with Deadliest Catch is that from top to bottom, it just doesn’t work as a fun gaming experience. The graphical presentation is decidedly last-gen, the control scheme is needlessly complicated, the gameplay mechanic has all the depth of a bowl of crab bisque, and it is quite simply boring.

A subpar entry in a normally solid franchise. Lousy story, terrible audio, and inconsistent design combine to make what is, in my opinion, the weakest game under the Ratchet and Clank banner.

It feels like Kojima couldn’t figure out how he wanted to end the game, and decided instead to fulfill every possible outcome that fans could want. It seems sloppy, amateur, and almost satirical.

A flawed boxing game with excellent presentation and some features that should make the next Fight Night team stand up and take notice. I stop short of calling it a solid effort because of the actual boxing gameplay, but 2K definitely has something to build on in the future.

If you’re looking for something to play one weekend, and you’re in a racing kind of mood, definitely give this a look. I wouldn’t commit more than a weekend to it though. Why should you?

The shame of it is if Sega had just allowed Edge of Reality to copy and paste the formula from Ultimate Destruction, this game would’ve been awesome. Instead, they saw what came before them and trembled at the thought of following it up.

Instead of maximizing their use of the source material, High Moon made a game stuck in the middle of an interactive movie and a mediocre 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.

An immensely satisfying and infinitely fun racing title.

Playing through this game reminded me how much fun the Indiana Jones character really is. If you enjoy the films at all, and enjoyed Lego Star Wars, this is right up your alley.

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.

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.

Forty dollars is a little steep for a cookie-cutter game with bad camera control and repetitive levels.

A good amount of fun for a short amount of time. It’s too complex for casual gamers, but too shallow for anyone looking to really dive into a dodgeball game. The core mechanics are tight, but sadly, there just isn’t that much to do with them.

For anyone looking for some nostalgia in their Wiiware this game definitely packs a powerful punch for the cost.

Haze's heart was apparently too big for its chest, and the finished product is quite possibly the biggest letdown this generation.

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.

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.

While Star Soldier isn't the deepest, most nuanced game available, it has some pretty tight shooting and fast-paced game play. If you're that second type of gamer who just has to have the highest score, you may find 8 dollars worth of game play. Otherwise, save yourself some money and finger pain.

Compared to other WiiWare games, however, it is a different story, and the game's uninteresting, uninspired gameplay and mediocre presentation definitely places it in the "not worth trying" category.

Unless you are an absolute die-hard Narni-ite, this game belongs as far away from your 360 as humanly possible.

Taking an obsolete game and giving it a second-rate DS port only makes the experience more painful.

The biggest problem with We Ski is that it’s just not exciting or challenging enough to make most gamers want to keep playing.

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.

After each round, you’re forced to watch a 20 second animation of the dealer paying out to the winners and collecting cards and chips from all the players. While it may be nice to see the first few times, 20 seconds between rounds is a long time to wait, and after 10 or 12 rounds, it can be infuriating.

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.

It is a fun party game, on par with games like Scene It or Rock Band, but not as addictive. And at 1000 Wii Points ($10.00), I can't say that it is for everyone. But for me, a trivia junkie, it was totally worth it.

The craziness and inanity of the game definitely makes it a great party title, but the lack of descriptions on how some of the abilities you gain throughout the game work are counterintuitive towards the playability and arcade feel.

Pop does offer mild entertainment, but I found that it only kept me occupied for a few minutes before I grew bored. Even with up to 4 players, it’s only so long before you are ready to move on to another game or find something else to do.

Nothing about the game really rings "Spielberg," so I am not too sure how much work he actually put towards the game. The multiplayer portion does bump up the value of the title, though, and the large assortment of different single player levels with different awards for completing it under different circumstances also goes far to make the game a definite purchase.

Even with all that fanboyism, I came into this game with optimism tempered by mediocre expectations. It failed to meet even them. The game is just plain bad. It feels underdeveloped, hacked together and downright shoddy.

The game is fantastic, a true work of art, and should be owned by anyone who considers themselves a fan of video games. Grand Theft Auto does so many things right that calling it a "sandbox" title is doing it a harsh disservice. It does shooting better then many shooters, driving better then many racing games, and has a better, more involved story then half of the most popular RPGs.

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 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.

Ballers is just too glitchy, ugly and frustrating to be worth even a rental.

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.

At a length of around 30 hours the game has more punch then the average adventure game of its kind, and while it feels a little long and can be frustrating at parts, I definitely place Okami near the top of the Wii releases, and possibly on the top of all adventure releases.

If you loved "Wii Sports" (and I mean REALLY loved it,) don’t mind terrible motion controls, and have two or three friends willing to play a few sub-par mini-games, then Summer Sports: Paradise Island may be worth a rental. For most Wii owners, though, it stands as just another in a string of third-party disappointment.

There’s just nothing here of any real value. Boring, unresponsive, tedious, repetitive mini-games loosely tied together with boring, unresponsive, tedious, repetitive driving sequences.