It may take some finagling to find it, but there is a solid flight game beneath the problems. It's just a bummer that you have to dig into several menus, find some buddies, and replay the campaign repeatedly to get to it.

Sega's Arcade Hits Pack is like a great piece of gum: it's not exactly fulfilling, but it's fine while it lasts.

As a single-player title, Guilty Party is ideal for kids; however, as a party game for the whole family, this is nothing short of delightful.

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.

But we can only look at what we have now. Elemental is now undercooked with no incentive to keep sitting down to dinner. With more variety and more clarity, Stardock's fantasy world might tell stories you would tell your friends. It's a shame it insisted on trying to tell them now.

Harvest Moon enthusiasts might enjoy this unpolished gem for its sinfully cute graphics and marketplace feature, but, like that KFC commercial says, it's not for the faint of heart.

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.

With its strict linear nature there is next to no replay value, unless you want to collect Playboy bunny pictures. The sad part of all of this is that there is a good game lost inside the driving, the save checkpoints, and the silly time wasting missions.

And Yet it Moves provides an adventure that is both challenging and relaxing in equal measure and shows that complicated controls and crazy move sets aren't needed to give players a compelling platforming experience.

Heck, it's one of the strongest games of the season, period.

For the most part Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a vast improvement over the first game and is commendable on its visual uniqueness and frantic action, but unfortunately and unforgivably the game is absurdly short for a full priced title and can literally be finished in a measly four to five hours.

The overall feeling of blandness still saturates the gameplay despite how much the art direction tries to spice things up, and it's a burden that the game never truly shakes.

It certainly can't replace EA Sports Active, which has breadth and depth well beyond anything you'll see here, but Dance Workout is a fun, competent "supplementary" game that deserves a place in your digital exercise collection (that is, if you have one).

If you're willing to use the wonderful fast-forward button and focus your attention on the important parts of the game, then YS SEVEN is well worth the money and your time. On the other hand, if you are foolish enough to take in the entire story, please don't blame me – I tried to warn you.

Watching Victoria II is hypnotic and frequently awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, you only occasionally might want to play it.

If you grew up with posters of Merlin on your wall and you're the type who used to sprint to the book store every time a new Choose Your Own Adventure came out, Academagia is the spellbinding RPG you've been waiting for.

And that's what Monday Night Combat is -- an enjoyable team based shooter, and for 1200 points ($15) it's hard to ask for much more than that.

As much as I want Team Madden to tighten the screws on its franchise modes and ship the game in a state that plays more like real football before altering in-game settings, it's impossible to deny that Madden NFL 11 simply plays a better game of football than its predecessor.

Despite a litany of grievances, the multiplayer is at least moderately entertaining and I do think that die hard Castlevania fans will get some mileage out of it.

The world needs to push back; the missions need to get more serious more quickly and there needs to be greater stakes than whether you make 150,000 bucks this year or 200,000. I think Nitro has that game in them. Alas, this is not it.

Don't get me wrong. Starcraft II is a fine game. It's just not great.

In the end, the biggest strike against Continuum Shift is that it remains in the shadow of Super Street Fighter IV, much as its predecessor did last year in relation to that game's initial release.

Arc Rise Fantasia isn't a bad game, but it's an unfortunate victim of the "two steps forward, one step back" rule. As a result, the good moments do manage to outweigh the not so good, which is a lot more than can be said for many games that hit the market at this time of the year.

Regardless of its brevity, price, or minor frustrations, this is one of the best games currently available on Xbox Live Arcade. It's also one of the most essential must-play experiences this generation.

It's a straightforward, classic sidescroller that anyone can pick up and start playing immediately.

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.

It's an ace introduction to a genre that isn't well-represented on consoles, and it's funny and engaging enough to capture you for hours at a time… even if you're all by your lonesome.

Truth is, everything that is novel about Disciples III was already in Disciples II, and the new stuff is basically a retread of features from other games.

So the first thing Darkstar One: Broken Alliance has going for it is that it doesn't have a lot of competition. The second thing it has going for it is that it was already a good game on the PC, and it was simple enough that it didn't have to be compromised on the way to the Xbox 360. So right away, that's a heap of good news for anyone who fondly recalls the thrill of flying a load of medical supplies past pirates to sell it for a modest profit that will go towards a bigger laser.

It's an ace introduction to a genre that isn't well-represented on consoles, and it's funny and engaging enough to capture you for hours at a time… even if you're all by your lonesome.

There are so many things to love about this game. The unpredictable yet vastly improved gameplay, the slider adjustments that actually work (set the quarterback accuracy to zero in practice mode to see what I mean), the AI playcalling, the new recruiting model, the online dynasty tools, and so on; if all you want to do is play the occasional game with a buddy or play one season with your favorite team, or just relax against the AI and play exhibition games after work then NCAA 11 is an absolute must buy. However, if Dynasty Mode is your thing you are better off either waiting and hoping EA Sports patches the game or simply saving your money for next year.

There are so many things to love about this game. The unpredictable yet vastly improved gameplay, the slider adjustments that actually work (set the quarterback accuracy to zero in practice mode to see what I mean), the AI playcalling, the new recruiting model, the online dynasty tools, and so on; if all you want to do is play the occasional game with a buddy or play one season with your favorite team, or just relax against the AI and play exhibition games after work then NCAA 11 is an absolute must buy. However, if Dynasty Mode is your thing you are better off either waiting and hoping EA Sports patches the game or simply saving your money for next year.

Whatever you decide to do, and however deep you decide to make your journey into Dragon Quest IX you'll be treated to one of the most accessibly complicated and cheerily good hearted role playing experiences to come along in some time and one of the absolute best role playing games of the year.

That all being said though, Blacklight: Tango Down is a quite solid shooter that combines entertaining gameplay with some unique features and throws it all together into a commendable multiplayer package.

It's admirable that the guys who made Crackdown 2 have created a sequel every bit as good as the original. It's just a shame they don't have that insight into the genre at large. Because there's almost nothing in Crackdown 2 to recommend it over the competition. On the whole, I'd rather be in Panau.

The bargain price may tempt you to give the game a try but trust me, it's no different than the shuckster me-too fighting games of 15 years ago only this time you'll be losing a lot more than just a quarter.

As a clever puzzler, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem succeeds, but when it comes to serving its intended audience, (which is presumably, young kids) it misses the mark.

Persona 3 is everything you want a PSP port to be: just as good as the original and customized to make PSP owners feel like thy need the new game even if they played the original for weeks on end.

If you're a puzzle fan, then the game does have some thought-provoking puzzles; however, it moves so slowly, you might not be able to stay awake long enough to get to them.

In the end Singularity is a decidedly average shooter with a pretty novel storyline.

In the end Singularity is a decidedly average shooter with a pretty novel storyline.

In the end Singularity is a decidedly average shooter with a pretty novel storyline.

Traveller's Tales have sure struck a gold mine with the LEGO series. Their earlier block-themed games have been charmingly cute and amusing, and Harry Potter is no exception. You can't blame them for sticking to a winning formula, as Potter and LEGO fans will likely flock to play this game.

As bare-boned as Deathsmiles is, playing through the game a couple times is entertaining.

Yes, the game is fan service, and plays to an audience that can't get enough of Etna, Flonne and Prinny, but it's also a decent game that succeeds in offering something new.

Sadly the result is a forgettable game that might be worth a weekend rental, but nothing more.

Add in the frustration-free design (dying brings about a tiny penalty in studs and sets you back exactly where you were) and the full-on charm of exploring a super cute, living version of the Harry Potter universe and you have an experience that even muggles will enjoy.

As in their previous games, specifically Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun, S&P:SS relies on a couple of evasion gimmicks and limited but flexible weapons that give the skilled player a slight edge over the thousands of bullets headed their way.

I simply wish the team had built a better game around the concept, or that someone had the foresight to release the game as a "budget" DLC title, instead of a $50 game.

Even at a commendable budget price and with the developer's commitment to support the game, I can't recommend Sniper: Ghost Warrior. Even as a cheap stopgap, the game is sure to disappoint all but the least discerning fans of the genre.

Duke is a nice trip down nostalgia lane if you have been missing Duke's smug face over the years and want to get reacquainted with the jeans wearing meathead but if you have already been there, there's really no real reason to return.

Even with a couple of minor demerits that tend to fade into the background when you're playing a multiplayer game with friends, Risk: Factions is a great addition to the Xbox Live Arcade library.

Even with the game's various problems I kept finding myself excited to play and looking forward to the next chapter to see which characters would be along for the ride.

Even with the game's various problems I kept finding myself excited to play and looking forward to the next chapter to see which characters would be along for the ride.

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.

While the underlying game might be straightforward, nothing about it is simple, because the interface always wants more sacrifices.

With Green Day: Rock Band, just as with The Beatles: Rock Band, Harmonix has proven themselves adept at creating a musical experience that distills down the unique strengths of a band and plays to those strengths to near perfection.

It's still not the serious no frills golf sim a lot of fans want – but it's getting there.

It still blows my mind that the most hardcore golfing experience in video games today is found on the console universally decried as being too "kiddie" but that is the stone cold truth.

As a story and a game, Peace Walker is wonderfully open-ended, encouraging you to replay missions, level up weapons, improve your staff, unlock gadgets, and even go online for head-to-head action or special recruitment missions.

Ultimately, Jolly Rover is a funny, well made adventure game.

It's more a fine super-patch than an extension or elaboration on the game as it stood.

Snoopy Flying Ace may not do anything that arcade dogfight games of past console generations didn't already cover but it remains a unique title in the XBLA catalog and I'm glad that I gave it a chance despite its questionable provenance.

All of this hammers home the notion that you’re playing a really nice tech demo and not a complete football game—and the $10 discount price of $49.99 isn’t enough to warrant a purchase.

All of this hammers home the notion that you're playing a really nice tech demo and not a complete football game-and the $10 discount price of $49.99 isn't enough to warrant a purchase.

The abysmal AI, the absolutely disastrous PC controls, boss battles that all but throw out the gameplay style that got you there in the first place, and the complete and total illogic of some of the gameplay systems (like the aforementioned “shields”) all serve to derail what should have been as memorable a game as I’ve played this year.

No matter how you slice it, though, UFC Undisputed 2010 is another blissful, brilliant recreation of the sport.

No matter how you slice it, though, UFC Undisputed 2010 is another blissful, brilliant recreation of the sport.

Longtime Mario fans will gobble this up and love every nanosecond, while casual folks may find themselves letting the game play for them more often than not.

While the dark spooky woods environment can get a little tedious - as can the combat, the story telling is compelling enough to keep you moving forward and just when you finally think you know what is going on, the game will turn it upside down, flip you the bird, and have you rethinking everything all over again - right up until the credits roll.

In the end, Red Dead Redemption is going to please a lot of gamers who are simply starved for a new world to explore and the Wild West, even though the game takes place at the end of that era, is ripe for the taking.

What Red Dead Redemption does best is allowing players to do whatever they want, whenever they want in a setting unlike any other.

Split Second's longevity isn't in its innumerable tracks. It's in finding new ways to better yourself in its smaller set of them.

Split Second's longevity isn't in its innumerable tracks. It's in finding new ways to better yourself in its smaller set of them.

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

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

Sure, there's still plenty of room to cram more into the game (I'd love to see some kind of proper multiplayer support), but as it stands, this expansion pack is definitely worth the purchase.

While the multiplayer does add a little something to package, it’s obvious that the campaign – the true co-op campaign - is where the main focus is. As good as the game looks, and as huge as the bosses are, it’s not all that fun to go through alone.

For long time fans of the franchise, Skate 3 will seem very familiar, however it's hard to argue with a successful formula and this formula has worked like gangbusters so far.

For long time fans of the franchise, Skate 3 will seem very familiar, however it’s hard to argue with a successful formula and this formula has worked like gangbusters so far.

Here's a fair litmus test. If you're on the fence about this game, and you have a Wii, spend $5 on the Virtual Console version of The Legend of Zelda. Spend an hour or two with it. Did you enjoy that? Now imagine it with gorgeous graphics and a lot of self-referential humor. That's 3D Dot Game Heroes, and while it's not for everyone, it's one of the most unique, charming and fun PS3 exclusives released so far this year.

While the multiplayer does add a little something to package, it’s obvious that the campaign – the true co-op campaign - is where the main focus is. As good as the game looks, and as huge as the bosses are, it’s not all that fun to go through alone.

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.

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

But even the most generous, gameplay-not-graphics players will have a difficult time locating where the fun and value is in this title because it’s just so sloppily presented and at least ten years behind practically everything else on the market.

Picross 3D is that kind of game, the kind that burrows itself into your mind, puts down hooks and never, ever leaves.

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

I’m only recommending this game to the patient—desperate for something they’ve experienced before.

I’m only recommending this game to the patient—desperate for something they’ve experienced before.

Super Street Fighter IV is more than a basic expansion pack.

Super Street Fighter IV is more than a basic expansion pack.

It’s unfair to criticize the game too much for being just a Souped Up World Cup version of FIFA 10. It’s really more than that. Yes, you can make the argument that dropping 120 bucks for two similar soccer games in a six month stretch is asking a tad much, but when the actual World Cup starts play in June and you want to get in on the act you’re going to want a copy of this game—and EA Sports knows it.

It’s unfair to criticize the game too much for being just a Souped Up World Cup version of FIFA 10. It’s really more than that. Yes, you can make the argument that dropping 120 bucks for two similar soccer games in a six month stretch is asking a tad much, but when the actual World Cup starts play in June and you want to get in on the act you’re going to want a copy of this game—and EA Sports knows it.

With its truly melon tweaking puzzles and the real life references to the acts and clues that were found during the real life investigation into the Jack the Ripper murders, Sherlock Holmes manages to cross from fictional to factual in a believable way.

This is one of those games that creates gamers and is easily one of the best Wii games to date.

As for the solo game, Conviction is likely to appeal to more people than any Splinter Cell game to date, which is a shame because UbiSoft has replaced the heady silent stealth play with a middling third person shooter.

As one of the cheapest games you can find on Steam right now Plain Sight delivers some powerhouse gameplay in a deceptively small package.

By the time the game ends, well after you wish it had, and with a cliff-hanger no less, you'll be more than happy to have it over, and not because a murderer's reign of terror has ended, but because your time with the game has.