If you enjoy micromanaging monsters and think Poemon is for babies, then you will be hard pressed to find a deeper game than Joker on the market.

The Resident Evil essence is intact and will spark some nostalgia for fans of the series, but take that name away and the game is essentially an incredibly average shooter that really does little to shake up the genre norm.

But the core mechanics of Yakuza – fighting and futzing around in this collection of city bits – are simply too disjointed to bear up under the fifteen or so hours it takes to reach the payoff.

It may be one of the few games that can be played by a child and parent together without insulting the intelligence of the adult or frying the brain of the youngster.

Superb graphics, challenging puzzles, morbid acts, and eerie noises will have you playing until the wee hours of the morning.

The online mode is very bare bones – there are rankings, but that’s about it.

Turn based gaming on the 360 is rare, but hopefully Allied Assault finds its niche with gamers looking for yet one more way to win World War II.

It’s an “A” game saddled with “C” game issues, but it’s still an addicting experience. I routinely found myself playing into the wee hours of the night, butchering gnomes with glee; camera issues (and all sense of morality) be damned.

There still are no leagues and at this point in time, that is just plain silly. The gameplay itself when online works well without significant lag.

The length of Second Sight is enough to satisfy the casual gamer looking for a great story to indulge themselves in, but after it is beaten once, it really has no reply value at all other than having fun tossing around enemies.

Sega succeeds in revving up its old arcade rally series with this phenomenal racer that infuses off-road with a dash of drift.

The handheld format suits the Bit.Trip beats well, and although these games are available elsewhere the 3DS package is definitely one of the better and most concise ways to experience them regardless of a couple of omissions.

While Starfy can’t compare to the king of the genre, he certainly has a place in Nintendo’s court.

College basketball games historically sell fewer copies, which is all well and good, but charging full price for something that lacks the features we come to expect is a swift kick in the groin to users.

College basketball games historically sell fewer copies, which is all well and good, but charging full price for something that lacks the features we come to expect is a swift kick in the groin to users.

Gyromancer has its heart in the right place. The unique abilities of beasts add an enjoyable twist to a familiar game, but efforts to innovate are nearly thwarted by a single mechanic that is often more punishing than challenging.

Stuntman: Ignition will induce some controller-tossing moments, but the action is so intense and fun, it's hard not to want to do that "one more take." It's thrilling, maddening, and addicting all at the same time.

A fresh and inspired fighting game.

Rather than aping what's popular, it focuses on good gunplay and unique ways to make it interesting: the slow motion, the co-op, the scoring system, two distinct characters to emphasize replayability, and a story that knows its place and its limitations.

Tony Hawk fans will probably find Tony Hawk's American Wasteland a must-buy, but I really think the franchise is starting to get as overexposed as Mega Man.

Unique, challenging, and a ton of fun. The game proves that baseball is baseball and when it's done right it doesn't matter if you're using Pedro or a young freshman from Kansas. It's still the National Pastime.

Folks looking for a different, decidedly mature experience in handheld gaming will find that Dementium II is just what the doctor ordered.

A significantly better game than the original. With better AI and unit pathfinding, and the inclusion of a more practical camera, it would be one of the better World War II RTS games around.

It’s a win-win for gamers with kids and Sega fans alike – finally, a Sonic game that you don’t need to be 10 years old to enjoy.

It’s not the poem in game form by any stretch – but it is a gorgeous action game – one of the best looking games you are likely to play and if you’re a 360 gamer who has never experienced a God of War game then it’s actually a fairly easy sell. However, those who know Kratos will quickly realize this is mere imitation.

When it clicks, it really clicks, it just makes you work to get to that point.

Offers 4 - 6 more hours of the kinetic single-player close quarters combat that made the original game such a stellar hit. While we wish the storyline was a little deeper and the game was a little longer, Extraction Point still delivers what it promises on the box.

One of the most addictive, amazing, and even hilarious games I’ve seen come out on this quarter of the year. Bullfrog might be dead, and Dungeon Keeper might be dead, but the creative concepts they inspired clearly are not.

The excellent platforming still remains, but this Prince seems to have lost a little of himself in coming back to his roots.

Tropico 3, while problematic, still manages to dig its hooks in deep.

Le Mans fans who don't have a Dreamcast should by all means pick it up.

Definitely something that is not for the faint-hearted. It can be a tough to keep your attention from wavering onto another game. Believe me; with all the other games being released now, it was a challenge. But if you stick with it, you will be pleasantly surprised.

If you own a Sega Genesis and only Sonic games, it may be time to trade them all in and buy this single disc; you will save space and come back with even more then what you left with.

Etrian Odyssey requires patience and resolve to unlock the mysteries of the Labyrinth, with not enough reward in return. This is a game only for the hardcore. All others need not apply.

It may not stray from the original, and it may not do anything to convert those not already enamored with gem matching, but when the original is so good, there's no reason to change anything.

I know that it sounds like I'm giving you two very different pieces of advice, and I am, but it's not as duplicitous as it sounds. House of the Dead: Overkill is a great game that you should play. If you already have, you're not missing anything by skipping the Extended Cut.

Fable III isn't a terrible game, it's just a disappointment, and suffers from a bad case of over-simplification. As entertaining as the characters and quests may be, they're weighed down by the increasingly simple gameplay. The biggest shame is that Lionhead made this fascinating and attractive world and then removed your ability to affect it in any real way.

What makes the game fun is its ease of control...It's light years above "Ready 2 Rumble" and "Knockout Kings."

A great game if you have a bunch of buddies who want to play with you, or if your existing Quake / Unreal Tournament etc. clan is looking for a new title to explore. However, as a single player sitting at home playing over the internet, I felt the game was lacking something that it wasn't when battling it out at E3 on S2 Games' LAN.

So for the same old good game with a new way to control it, Bust-a-Move DS earns an above-average "B" score.

City Life: World Edition isn't a perfect city simulation title, but at the same time it is an extremely important addition to the genre; if not simply to infuse it with new ideas then at the very least to give SimCity some much-needed competition.

The bottom line is that Tidalis is a flexible, smart, refreshingly unique puzzle design, and it's situated neatly into a large generous package. It's far better than any mere puzzle game should be.

WWE All Stars is all about giving the impression that the stars of WWE are god-like. From the overblown caricatures to the over-the-top physics and dazzling lighting effects, the game does a good job of making its case. More importantly, All-Stars proves that a wrestling game that does not have the word "SmackDown" in its title can be successful.

This isn't necessarily a bad game and there is a decent amount of old fashioned fun dressed up with new technology available in it. It is an oddly out-of-step game even among the lackluster 3DS launch lineup, if only because it doesn't look or feel current and could almost be accused of being a lazy, rushed port of any of the previous Ridge Racer titles.

It's not powerful enough to convince Painkiller detractors to join the fold, but it's certainly everything a fan the original game will love.

Call of Duty: World at War is a solid shooter that just happens to be placed in a setting that has grown tiresome over the years. Even so, the technical merits of this game shouldn't be ignored. It's a fast paced, fun game with lots of content and plenty of frantic action.

The campaign is lackluster both in terms of plot and scope (even the optional "side" missions, while still present, aren’t nearly as creative or engaging as the original’s – and where’s my damn singing sailors?).

Nano Assault is shallow, pretty, kind of fun but repetitive. It's the kind of game that I tend to play intensely for a couple of days and then put away, never to touch it again.

Players that obsess over every club purchase or need to have complete control over their golfer's stats will be turned off by the low level of difficulty but for players new to the genre, or new to videogaming in general, the stylish and happy theme of the game, combined with the intuitive controls makes for a fun golfing experience.

Like a creepy, surly teenager on his first day of high school, this game simply tries too hard to be cool and achieves very little of what it sets out to accomplish.

Even with some missing features that longtime sport gamers have become accustomed to and some notable flaws in the gameplay balance on the field, nothing stops the pure fun factor of playing All Pro Football 2K8 from shining through. Here’s hoping we see the continuation of this series.

Hard Corps: Uprising has that old Contra feel, including a bit of obligatory missile riding, but Arc System Works manages to carve its own niche with a sharp art-style and the customization of Rising mode. Although it can be painfully rough in some spots, it powers through with barrels blazing and, hopefully, marks the beginning of an amazing series.

Anybody who was a major fan of the original Sin should pick this up unquestionably, as while the lack of the usable computer terminals (another beef of mine) is disappointing, everything else that made the original Sin feel like a cool and unique title for it’s time is still present in Emergence.

Some of the game’s flaws can be overlooked but the checkpoint weapon bug is inexcusable and the nearly complete lack of enemy AI is essentially the equivalent of taking Doom’s enemies and making them forget to move forward.

The game is also disappointingly a little on the short side, and a dedicated player could probably blast through the game’s missions (of which there are less than 20) in a good day of playing – it’s primarily in the unlockables and different avenues of play which give the game any semblance of staying power.

Whether or not you enjoy BattleForge depends largely on how much of a purist you are. It has the cunning and diverse combos of a CCG, but not the pacing for patient maneuvers. It has the tactics and resource-management of RTS, but not the stability in foes to plan for every possibility.

If you can get past the presentation and can stomach Road to WrestleMania's 3D adventure, then you are likely to enjoy what Yuke's has done this year.

There's no denying that the title was one of those classics that lived on far beyond its intended marketability. In this respect, a port to the GBA was a sort of inescapable eventuality, and the final result is one that's as faithful to the original as one could hope.

I've mentioned adventure style gameplay but truthfully there is not a lot of it going on in Folklore.

Overall, Frontlines has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had this year – particularly online. It’s too bad about the control, graphical draw in and short length of the single player game but the multiplayer portion saves it from the bargain bin of doom.

I found few things more immensely satisfying about Front Mission 4 than witnessing a perfectly executed chain of attacks occur all from moving one Wanzer into position and issuing an attack order. Thumbs up for an interesting new way to pump a little fresh spice into the standard turn-based strategy formula.

It's enjoyable but short, easy to learn but difficult to master, with a character who isn't quite compelling enough for the title to stand out in a genre that has too long been crowded and cutthroat.

User-friendly controls combined with you-are-there graphics and sound – and a bunch of cool modes and extras – makes this one of the best baseball games you’re likely to play.

Regardless of its obvious shortcomings, Culdcept Saga is an addictive, unique and just plain fun little game that is jam packed with content.

Grab your sense of humor and your plastic axe and give Lego Rock Band a try.

With all that is found through out Scarface: The World is Yours, there is a huge amount of things to do and more action than you can shake a stick at.

The expansion also enhances your ability to interact with other races – something I’ve given the series criticism for in the past.

Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love is a rare gem that'll certainly find its niche among anime fans and RPG perfectionists, but I fear that your average gamer won't have the patience for the dialogue and runaround involved in each episode.

"Call of Duty 2" and "Perfect Dark Zero" are far better games in almost every way. Even "King Kong" supplies a better FPS single-player experience.

A perfect example of a game whose strengths far outweigh its minuses. The great visual style, graphics and voice acting, along with the head switching mechanic certainly makes up for the less than stellar platforming and slightly repetitive combat.

Without a goal or the feeling of adventure, doing the missions just feels like a chore.

Although singleplayer is over quick, online play is a lot of fun and unlike other vampire games, Darkwatch sure doesn't suck!

Final Fantasy fans that can live without actual RPG elements and can enjoy a myriad of mini-games and light card battles should also giving this game a look.

Playing multiplayer against other players that could transform into vehicles would have been something that could be expanded on quite considerably but unfortunately there is nothing at all.

I'm all for experimentalism and maverick design, but there needs to be a game there and a sense of purpose to back it up. El Shaddai has neither.

While single players will need a bit of extra setup time, the enjoyable story and intuitive touch controls make Echoes of Time a blast to play for practically anyone – not just the diehard RPG fans out there.

If the actual gameplay had shown more innovation and been as solid as the story script, this could have been a truly great game. As it is, it must settle for simply good.

The only thing I could find wrong with it was the occasional issue with the camera, not allowing you to fully rotate it. The storyline is fun, even though it is lovey dovey.

The combination of its weak story setup and the arduous grind to see it through completely killed the single player portion of this DLC add-on for me; thankfully, the multiplayer additions allow me to cautiously recommend it for those who enjoy playing AC:B online and have ten bucks to burn – everyone else, there's nothing much to see here.

Kane’s Wrath on the 360 isn’t quite a delight, but it’s not a disaster either. The very simple C&C economy is suited to the platform, and since the game is all about beating the stuffing out of other things, there isn’t a lot of tactical nuance to worry about.

A decent World War 2 tactical game, marred by extensive bugs, design flaws, and, yes, a lack of co-op support. Maybe when it's patched up it'll be worth your hard-earned dough, but for the time being, only die-hard fans or gamers that don't demand much out of their games will want to pick it up.

In the end the game has some content, but it is too easy. If they were trying to re-revolutionize this type of game, they fell dramatically short of that goal.

The game combines colorful artwork, character animations, adult themed language, and a very mature storyline that gives the game a nice overall feel that fans of the genre will appreciate.

A decent collectible card game that can be picked up by players of all stripes in a relatively short amount of time. The game’s mechanics as they relate to the eye itself can be clunky at times but the overall experience is a lot of fun online, against the game’s AI and especially against friends who want to have a traditional sit down battle.

The gameplay mechanics in Gun are a lot of fun, and can be picked up and learned pretty easily with a little tiny bit of practice.

At the end of the day X-Men Origins: Wolverine offers a fun, albeit repetitive romp as one of comics' most savage characters.

The game uses non-game elements without becoming overbearing to the point of irritation and the game's various multimedia flavors is spread out in such a fashion as to offer a steady stream of variety.

Platforming veterans will find the game entirely too easy but as an entry point for younger gamers looking to start playing platformers, or learning about Batman, it's a good, if entirely too brief start.

Ivy The Kiwi? is deceptive. While it looks lighthearted it's really a serious and challenging platform game, but in spite of its difficulty, the simple controls and game mechanics make it very approachable, and while you'll almost certainly die a lot the game is very forgiving.

For players with the dedication to succeed and the incomprehensible desire for perfection, Droplitz is one of the most refined puzzle games available.

Regardless of these nitpicks, ClaDun X2 delivers on NIS's promise of providing twice as much stuff as in the original.

Its greatest strength is its ability to rustle up nostalgia and good, old-fashioned Halloween fun.

Moments of blissfully smooth combat are followed by awkward bouts of running away. Just when you start to get bored by doing the same "go slurp us that scientist" mission for the fifth time, it throws you a curve ball. Which means that anyone who thought the original fell short, or was dull, or got trumped by inFamous, Hulk, or any number of Spider-Man games, is not going to be swayed by this. But for those who enjoyed the original, this sequel does not disappoint.

As far as the graphics are concerned, PS2 owners can be both jealous and egotistic. The Game Cube version features a hell of a lot less jaggies, as well as smoother looking characters, but there's some weird slowdown in a cinema or two, and the movies look a bit lower in quality.

Though Battlestations: Pacific doesn’t have a slew of new features from its predecessor, it does have the same solid gameplay that put the series on the map.

Unfortunately, with the issues the game has in its short singleplayer campaign and the lack of originality in the multiplayer, Medal of Honor is a decent enough shooter and reboot of the franchise, but isn't the blockbuster that EA was aiming to deliver.

Given the game's low price point and the extras that Meridan4 has released in support of the game like the level editor, there's no reason not to pick this game up.

I admire the developer's attempt to present a story and puzzles where partnership and collusion are the principle themes and while I was playing it I genuinely enjoyed working through each area and finding the collectible items. By the end, I found that I was more than ready to wrap it up and put its boring combat, snoozer story, and shaky production quality to rest for good.