As it stands, however, Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume is still a great game for either starved SRPG fans or those looking to get their feet wet with a multi-branching title that lets you choose your destiny.

Other than the controls of the weapons and poor aiming model, the great graphics and fantastic voice over work help make Army of Two a solid if unspectacular outing.

More of the same? Absolutely, but whether this is a good or a bad thing depends on your enjoyment of the previous games in the series.

Those looking for a deeper fighting engine will be happy, as will those who didn't want their strategic fighter over-done.

There's no denying that the game's presentation overall is pretty cool and that once you get past the game's minor design and gameplay issues it can be a lot of fun.

The only hitch the game has is a major pet peeve of mine. When you die, regardless of when you die in a level, you have to start it all over again, from scratch.

Reflex feels like everything Untamed was meant to be, albeit with a slight tinge of disappointment.

Rich visuals and loads of gameplay options ensure your experience will be a positive one, packed with simulated Formula One racing that is surprisingly accessible.

But suffice to say Space Pirates and Zombies isn't just a grand open-world space action RPG in the tradition of Star Control. It's also a rare expression of zombies that belongs alongside Dead Rising and Atom Zombie Smasher.

Binary Domain is a decent third person cover shooter with great set piece fights and a few fun boss battles trapped inside a gimmicky command structure and a story that disintegrates near the end and turns what should have been a surprisingly good shooter into one that is tough to fully recommend.

If Pandemic had not so thoroughly nailed almost all the presentation aspects of this game, I would probably have given it only three sharks. But the out-of-this-world attention to detail and sci-fi insider humor raise the score by a full point.

The ability to pick up and play at your own pace is another definite good thing about this game that is great for the casual gamer. If you want a game that really gives your brain a run for its money while giving you the creeps at the same time, then Evidence is a game right up your alley.

For those who do enjoy it, the multiplayer capabilities and random map generation provide literally endless replay value. The bottom line is that this is not a universal title, but the target group will be quite satisfied with the result.

An amusing little diversion when taken in small doses. Its lack of storyline and repetitious combat keep it from being playable for more than an hour or two at a time, but it’s good solid fun for that hour or two.

So the story is so-so and the RPG section watered down with limited development choices, weak voice acting and script writing.

The humor and style of Ankh delivers a fun and appealing quest and players will have a melon tweaking time with the numerous puzzles found through out the game.

Even if you don't like the Disney themes that are in the game, Disney Magic really is about decent single and multiplayer gameplay, and less about Winnie The Pooh or Beauty & The Best. If you loved the original, you'll love Disney Magic.

With only 15 different tests to play, Big Brain Academy can quickly get to be an exercise in just answering faster rather than having you brain participate in new activities.

Def Jam Rapstar has some pretty impressive speech recognition under the hood and a great start with its community site but at the same time, some track list omissions and a career mode that feels somewhat tacked on makes this game a good start with plenty of room to grow.

I think what bugs me the most about this game is that I had my original expectations set pretty darned low before it came out in the hopes of being easily-impressed, and sadly, it ended up meeting many of these low expectations.

To be fair, Paradox and Arrowhead are doing a lot of work to fix the game's issues and it is, as of this writing, in a far better state than when it shipped, but the fact remains that my group has suffered crashes at the end of three separate chapters, which forces a complete chapter redo, and as cute as Magicka is, that's not funny.

Annoyances aside, LEGO Batman is arguably the best of the LEGO games. It’s certainly not revolutionary, but it represents a very smart, very fun evolution on a proven formula.

Those looking for big changes to the series won't find them here, but the music is great, the choreography is well designed and appropriately silly, and there are enough extra modes to keep things interesting.

I felt this game was a step backward in the series. Fans of the 2 year old Underground game will love this one, while fans of Most Wanted may want to sit this one out.

While gamers new to (or averse to) anime style may not enjoy Atelier Totori, the committed JRPG audience will likely be pleased with what the game has to offer. For us JRPG enthusiasts, a good game means beautiful anime-style graphics, expressive musical scores, eccentric characters and dialog and complex gameplay mechanics; despite its somewhat simplified approach to combat, Atelier Totori scores on all points.

Ideally suited to hard core strategy gamers who relish the pure strategic elements of player-versus-player conflict and don't mind the occasionally tedious hotspot in combat.

A decent and unique gaming experience that takes sand box gaming to new heights. With all the combat, customization and multiple paths you can take Vanilla on, there's really nothing to complain about.

Fans of simulation racers are going to crap a brick when they see this game: the physics are incredibly implausible. Arcade-racing fans will be more forgiving.

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.

Diehard Naruto fans might find a little joy in taking their favorite characters into the ring (again), but the payoff for the effort of trudging through Story mode is adequate at best.

A title worthy of the franchise and second only "World of Warcraft" in quality and fun in and MMORPG.

True, it can be maddening at times not having direct control. But if you want a game that strikes a more happy medium between direct involvement and squad command, I can highly recommend "Star Wars Republic Commando."

It's a frustrating game because of the technical issues. The core game remains as solid as ever but unless you have the patience to wait for the game to load at every turn it's a very tough sell. As a result I can't fully recommend it but I do encourage those UFC fans that want an authentic mixed martial arts experience to buy UFC Undisputed 2010 for Xbox 360 or PS3.

If you’re a Queen fan and don’t mind about the artist vocals then by all means pick up this game, some mics, and call a few friends over. However, if you take your social singing seriously then you’re better off going to your local bar/bowling alley/karaoke parlor and get your fix there. Or better yet, invest in a karaoke machine.

Having both games together gives some replay value but losing out on multiplayer unless you find someone else who has the game and a PSP and is within 30 feet of you can prove difficult.

With the great graphical style that Ultimate Spiderman brings and the spectacular cutscenes, Ultimate Spiderman really is a feast for the eyes, although the PS2 version did have slow downs at times that the Xbox didn’t.

In the end this is a by the numbers shooter with slick graphics, and ample opportunity to shoot supercharged Nazis. It's not going to win any awards but it's worth checking out if you’re looking for a weekend to pass the time shooting everyone's favorite bad guys.

Does it accurately register your dancing? Heck no. Does it provide the impetus to cut loose and just, well, dance? Absolutely-and your party will be the better for it.

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood isn't a bad game, it's just a disappointing one. If you're a diehard Sonic fan, it's probably the best outing containing your favorite blue hedgehog in years, regardless of how low a benchmark that may be.

Army of Two: The 40th Day is dumb, goofy fun, but sometimes that’s just what the doctor ordered.

Gran Turismo PSP falls short of delivering a full experience. Polyphony Digital did an amazing job on the technical side of this game, but the glaring omission of a real career and the lack of car upgrades sinks what could have been a great title.

At 1200 MS Points ($15), it's a tough one to completely recommend given its faults but in its favor it is probably the best looking game in Xbox Live Arcade and there really isn't anything else quite like it as a whole.

Stay away from this game if you’re new to the series, and try to find yourself a copy of "Front Page Sports Baseball" or even "High Heat Baseball." I would recommend High Heat Baseball 2002 for your PC baseball simulation needs. Not only was the simulation aspect remarkable, but you could actually play the game as well.

If nothing else, Armed Assault can be considered just short of being a “flawed masterpiece”, desperately in need of the proper time and development to shine the way it truly should.

The execution and the boring gameplay coupled with the heavy handedness of the humour combine to make the game a true exercise in tediousness.

I'm usually one to skip the cut scenes and get on with the game, but the cinema fits perfectly with the gameplay, balancing out story and action, making one just as enjoyable as the other.

The upbeat atmosphere, colorful levels and absolutely hilarious cut scenes make this game well worth playing even if the inflexible save system requires some planning to work around. Even with this limitation, seeing the cities transform from bleak cityscapes to colorful bastions of good cheer and frivolity is like nothing else in gaming today and should be appreciated as such.

The onfield action is enjoyable but it’s tough to recommend when the game is not realistic in the least and so many options are removed from other console versions of the game.

It offers a relatively fresh take on a well-established genre, with polished graphics and all the asteroid-blasting pleasure you can find this side of 1979.

In the end, Star Ocean: First Departure is a wonderful translation of a game Americans were robbed of so long ago. With superb voice acting, phenomenal replayability, and a great translation with new hybrid 2D/3D graphics, Square Enix’s remake team did a great job.

Every song has a Basic and Trick mode, so no matter what the age of the player, everyone should be able to shake a booty or two while playing.

I don't know where all the hype came from, but Wreckless doesn't live up to it.

Graphically, the title is definitely clocking in at “adequate”, with sometimes lumpy characters and stiff animations. There’s a slight floating in the movement of characters, and the terrain can seem a bit bland and repetitive at times, but hey, it’s a desert setting.

But the reality of a game in this class is that gamers may leave the whole thing to die, waiting for price drops or getting their fill of it over the course of a weekend rental.

The game for me was just ok – it didn’t have the same sort of wow factor I had with previous games in the series – it just felt like more of the same except with a new (sometimes frustrating) control scheme.

About the sharpest criticism that can be leveled at Darkwatch is that it really adds nothing original in the gameplay department. Aside from its extremely well executed western/horror environment, Darkwatch is a pretty generic FPS game with a weaker multiplayer mode.

A pretty impressive strategy builder and while it doesn't surpass Glory of the Roman Empire's ease of use or CivCity: Rome's good looks, it does offer the most robust city building components of the three.

Ultimately Puzzle Quest 2 isn't a bad game, it's just a disappointing one. There are other games in this genre that should get your greenbacks before you invest in this one, including the stellar Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes and the original Puzzle Quest. Measure your expectations accordingly.

The price of $89 really isn’t that bad compared to a gym membership and I think you’ll probably use it more than the gym. If only the manual was a little clearer on Quest mode then I could wholeheartedly recommend the game.

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

It’s just now you can really see the difference between FIFA and PES – and FIFA is starting to pull away.

MP3 retains all of the wonderfully simplistic features that made its predecessors easy to pick up and tough to put down, while adding a ton of new mini-games to the mix.

Multiplayer is pretty solid, though the controls are a little slower than in the single-player mode. Still the multiplayer mode is a nice addition to the solid single-player game.

It's funny, addicting, and well designed and is a real bargain for PSP owners looking for something off the beaten path.

If EA Sports can smooth out the gameplay, continue to improve ball physics, do something (please!) about the game’s load times, and hold onto their edge in the presentation department, they’ll have a game that can truly compete with "NBA 2k8," something that would’ve been unthinkable a year ago.

I thoroughly enjoyed the opening moments of each map, looking over the terrain for bonuses and counting moves to make sure that I engaged the enemy with the perfect formation. After that, it was back to 20 minutes of occasionally pressing one button to keep my little soldiers swinging in the most non-violent war this side of a NERF fight.

Ultimate Ninja 2 is more of the same but with a fresh coat of paint. In my opinion it's got enough meat on its bones to recommend to fans of the original and beat 'em up fans in general. But while the action is pretty easy to get into, the game's victory conditions might prove frustrating to some.

Flat Out 2 brings the same gameplay to the table the second time around, although it just doesn’t seem to have the same vibe as the original did.

The difficulty level is there providing a challenge, the game is fun, however as with all sport games such as this, it can be difficult to control unless you’re sitting down at a table. Don’t let that stop you from trying it out though – New International Track & Field is the next best thing to being at the Beijing games.

Medal of Honor Heroes 2 won’t be winning any awards for mission originality, or AI for that matter, but the gameplay it serves is up is solid and fast paced with the best FPS controls on the WIi to date.

Army of Two: The 40th Day is dumb, goofy fun, but sometimes that’s just what the doctor ordered.

Graphically, the title is definitely clocking in at “adequate”, with sometimes lumpy characters and stiff animations.

Ultimately, Puchi Puchi Virus is a solid puzzle game that's great for anyone tired of the myriad others on the DS.

As it is, nothing really separates it and makes it unique. Despite the cool setting, this is by the numbers game design that you’ve played a million times before.

The first five levels of the six that make up the single player campaign are some of the best that the genre has seen thus far with gameplay that not only fully embraces the open map and vertical gameplay mechanics but also stay at an aggressive yet not overbearing difficulty level.

For everyone else though, the game is a harder sell and I would recommend that you make use of Live's ability to download the trial version before dumping those 800 points into a purchase.

If this were a mid-level priced game, say $29.99, it would be a bargain, but to charge full price for a game that has so little in the way of off the field content is a tough pill to swallow.

After communicating with the development team, they seem very attentive and are actively patching the game. So maybe in the near future the above-mentioned problems won't be an issue. Until that time, I can't recommend picking this one up. If the news of the HD release has got you itching for MDK2 again, think about hunting down a copy of the original.

In the end, Mario Party 9 remains what each game in the series has been: a party game. Part of me wants to berate Nintendo for making nine Mario Party games in little more than a decade, but I've got to applaud them in this case. There's no flashy new control scheme or extraneous microphone peripheral in Mario Party 9. No, in lieu of any fancy new hardware, Nintendo simply gave the old gang the keys to the company car and actually changed the rules of the game for once-and it works surprisingly well.

I hate Formula One 2001 because it has bland graphics, bland sounds, and its not even close to fun.

With a higher difficulty level and some presentation quirks, Pokemon Colosseum is a great game for the Pokemon veteran and not such a great choice for someone just now getting into the games.

Barring minor technical errors, The Homestar Ruiner is a great start for this episodic game. It’s funny, inexpensive, easy to play, and has replay value from the mini-games.

GUN Showdown proves that with a little ingenuity and some hard work you can create something special for a hand-held platform.

There's no denying that the game's presentation overall is pretty cool and that once you get past the game's minor design and gameplay issues it can be a lot of fun.

An average game that is held back by brutal difficulty and a design that would seem to fit better with a turn based model.

Still, at 20 bucks it’s a safe bet for political junkies who want to test their mettle and there is a solid strategy game underneath all of the cutesy bobbleheads.

While the game is rather short, and the love/hate activations of the some of the Viewtiful powers, this is an extremely fun game.

There is definitely value to be had in Midway’s Ultimate Mortal Kombat for the Nintendo DS. While it doesn’t bring anything new to the table, the tried and true gameplay works very nicely on the handheld and is a great pick up and play game for those times when you’re waiting for the bus to pick you up or have 15 to 30 minutes to kill.

Prism Light the Way has an interesting premise, and there are plenty of gameplay options to choose from, however it doesn’t grab you and make you want to forego the rest of your life for just one more puzzle.

Battlestations Midway is a welcome change from the traditions first person World War II shooting games that have been all the rage over the last few years and if you like naval warfare, there really aren’t many games out for the 360 besides this one to get your fix.

In a game like Silent Hill: Shattered Memories the immersion is crucial to giving the player the full experience and unfortunately, that experience doesn't come along with the game's other high points to the PSP.

This whole thing came as something of a disappointment for me given Cold Winter’s focus on being something of a "realistic shooter", and the consistent gaps in AI behavior became really noticeable over time.

Hector: Badge of Carnage is without question, one of the best new adventures-in fact, one of the best game properties-to come out in recent memory. With its likeably slobbish anti-hero and the possibility for endless story setups, we adventure fans would do well to cross our fingers that the collaboration between Telltale and Straandlooper continues well beyond the current trilogy.

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

So the story is so-so and the RPG section watered down with limited development choices, weak voice acting and script writing.

It's unfortunate when such a beautiful well designed game falls victim to stale gameplay. This game is definitely worth playing, It just lacks replayability.

Viva Media's first release in the series is a good value and will certainly get you started on the path to adventure, but for those wanting to start off slow you can also buy and download each episode separately directly from Private Moon. Either way, the first chapters in this 14 episode adventure series are pretty solid and entertaining.

This definitely isn’t a title that will impress most of the “jaded gamers” crowd, and while I had fun playing it, I certainly wouldn’t describe my experience as extraordinary.