And while it is clearly geared for a younger crowd, it nonetheless shows off well the DS experience – something that no other system currently has a prayer of duplicating.

But as a single player game, there’s nothing quite like Europa Universalis III. Not even Europa Universalis II offers this much replayable wide-open history.

For what could have been just another jump in a sea of platformers, this game stands out because it has personality. Don't miss this one.

The music selection kicks ass. No Doubt, Powerman 5000, Orbital, Crystal Method, and more. The sound effects also kick much but. Control is dead on.

A complete joy to play and one of the best baseball games I’ve played in quite some time.

The episode is brimming with pop culture references that range from The Color Purple, Se7en, The Shining, and even Samuel Adams beer.

Superb graphics, great sound and unbeatable realism. There's not much more you can ask for in a racing game period.

Replay value is enormous, the game is a blast to play even though the main story mode is over relatively quick.

While some players may ultimately find the combat and inventory limitations to be more than they can bear, Odin Sphere deserves much credit for its artfully elegant approach to a genre that is too frequently weighed down by yawn-inducing cases of déjà vu.

This is a winning formula, backed with truly inspired writing and art direction. I'd be happy to come back any day, no matter the occasion.

Every DS gamer should give it a whirl, regardless of their design ambition, even if just to get a sense of what wacky creativity lies in the minds of their fellow gamers.

One of the best game collections i've had the pleasure of playing this year. It deserves high marks for offering a wide variety of game titles and some pretty hefty game titles that fans of the 16-bit era will appreciate.

Fans of the original games and new comers to the series alike will all take to this new outing and know why Lara was and always will be gaming goddess she is.

The multiplayer is disappointing due to the sloppy netcode, making the game primarily a single player or co-op campaign experience (two players only this time, though.) However, the solid gameplay mechanics and control scheme backed by impressive visuals and audio make the campaign game shine and is one of the best tactical shooters in recent memory.

This is one of the first N64 racers where you can actually see down the road a bit. No turns or mountains pop up from nonexistence to halt your speed. The framerate is very smooth and consistent throughout the courses, regardless of how much is going on in the race. Now that's something!

Once you get a continuous game going to the point you are bored with it, there isn’t much incentive to being a new continuous game, even on a higher difficulty level. It will take you tens of hours to see all the content available to you, and once you do there’s not a lot of reason to go back and see it again.

A fun and engaging game of golf.

It is an easy game to hop into and play, so people of all ages can join in.

Speaking for myself, I'd rather play through Cave Story again five times than have a second run through the tedious and dated Ocarina of Time, and discovering this game's unique world in a new 3D format has been surprisingly rewarding. It may very well be the 3DS' best game to date.

Fans won’t find much of anything substantially new to digest, so think of Extraction as a fast, psychedelic trip down memory lane with a lot more firepower.

It's also an important game for the 3DS in particular because it demonstrates the viability of a hardcore-oriented franchise as well as how powerful the 3D effect can be in creating a game environment.

Are there enough improvements to warrant a purchase of 09 if you have 08? That’s hard for me to say. The dynamic ratings are fantastic, but with a majority of the courses being identical and the gameplay being almost identical it’s a tough sale.

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.

A very good simulator for naval combat that includes realistic ships, aircraft, mission types and mission areas. This is a great naval experience whether you have legs born of years at sea or if you are just looking to get your feet wet (that pun was intended).

PopCap has done what modern science can't, made an insanely cheap time machine, capable of transporting you hours into the future with every match of a gem.

Stellar tuning options are perfect for diehard racing fans and, assuming you're playing online, the integration of Autolog makes this one of the most competitive racing games on the market. Even so, peculiar choices in presentation and very questionable actions on behalf of the A.I. make Shift 2: Unleashed an alternative to other simulators, rather than a replacement.

You can pick it up and play with barely any learning curve, and the multiplayer of the game gives it nearly infinite replay value.

What you need to know is that this is a blisteringly paced, funny, addictive game that never lets up.

A fun ride that is sure to please old-school RPG fans who want to play a classic party-based adventure.

The Association mode is a very deep simulation experience that should satisfy most simulation fans. There's a wealth of information available and the ability to customize the league and determine how much control the owner has over the team.

For fans of Dragon Age it’s still worth playing, but let’s hope the next Dragon Age-branded product in the pipeline gets the time it needs to reach Bioware’s usually high standards.

The game captures the magic of Jackson's film (and steps a little beyond it), looks great and gives you a gameplay ride that is lots of fun.

About the only things that keep the game from scoring higher is the lack of any meaningful innovation in the gameplay and the fact that the game only has seven stages to play.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance does what few do – it actually improves on the two original games and adds something new to the series.

The game itself is an enjoyable experience for fans of the series – it’s tweaked just enough to warrant a purchase and the soundtrack is phenomenal. The lack of online and the new guitar controller are a bit of a disappointment, but the game still rocks and is recommended for those that have yet to take the next-gen console plunge.

In the end NCAA 12 is a success on the field where it counts, and I strongly suggest playing in an online league with some friends as this is the best way to enjoy the game's dynasty mode. That said, we are at a point where NCAA has hit its ceiling. Yes, it's a good game and better than last year, and I suspect that most fans will have a grand old time with it, but hopefully NCAA 13 can finally be the complete and total package.

The Darkness is, quite simply, an excellent game and deserves its place as one of the finest shooters and finest examples of video game storytelling in recent memory.

Disgaea DS throws the title onto a new platform, but it loses none of what made it so excellent in the first place. The gameplay is still deep and addicting, the story and subsequent writing are still fantastic, and the characters are some of the most memorable in recent RPGs.

The gameplay is multilayered, the storyline is deep and the overall presentation is the most polished we've seen in a long while.

One of my biggest gripes with the game is the police. You hit a couple cars in traffic and the police are all over you.

A game that’s easy to pick up and hard to put down, with a substantial amount of realistic action crammed into every high speed pursuit you engage in.

The clan managing system for contact between you and your friends is a new and very innovative feature that I can see a lot of online team based games incorporating in the future.

Darksiders has set 2010 off to a running start. With gory hack-and-slash action, challenging dungeon puzzles, an intriguing (albeit sometimes annoying) guardian demon, gorgeous scenery and a story that begins with killing mankind, you get a little bit of everything.

Surprisingly addictive, though incredibly frustrating at later stages in the game.

As a Viva Piñata first timer, I was totally at home right from the start. The game is pure, well-paced fun, with a great deal of variation and customization available.

Although I question Bioware's prioritization of interactive cinema over interesting and variable gameplay, that doesn't mean Dragon Age 2 isn't worth experiencing. This game grabs and tears at your emotions like few others can and that is worth a lot.

The thing that stands out the most is the commentary, which is usually a weak part to most sports games.

The game seemed to take a lot of aspects of the previous versions of the game and just build off them, but seemed to lose focus of what the game was meant to be. And a lot of the improvements that came in this release just complicated the game, making confusing and hard to play at times.

Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure is a fantastic game for anyone who loves old school platformers and match 3 puzzle games.

You will find destroying environments very satisfying, as well as the enemies. The storyline is fantastic and true to the Marvel world.

It seems fitting somehow that Okamiden be one of the games that closes out the DS's reign as the game's themes of youth combined with tradition seems to mirror the current transition from one console to the next.

If you missed out on the last game, or if you are a big old Space Invaders fan, you can’t go wrong with this puppy.

The combat engine has been dramatically improved, making every fight a unique experience.

With the same principles as the previous games in place, not fixing what isn’t broken, Blood Money adds some interesting new features to make the tension even higher and the missions all that much more complicated.

This is a heavy metal fairy tale, spun with love and copious amounts of good humor from Shafer and crew – and it’s every ounce the game fans hoped it would be.

If you've never played the original game, it's well worth your time to pick it up and while Dark Athena doesn't compare, it's still fun—up to a point.

The improved graphics make all of the environments you visit look lively and beautiful, both in and out of the jungle and in and out of water. Lighting and shadows are done quite well and provide a very noticeable visual improvement over the last few games as is the audio.

As great a game as the original, but like the first one, the ride only lasts for so long before it gets repetitious.

Sonic Rush pays tribute to the original game but also adds some welcome new features that really make this game more enjoyable than ever.

If there’s a complaint, it’s just that we’re left wanting more – where’s Comet and Cyclone and High Speed? Let’s just hope that Crave is saving them for Pinball Hall of Fame Volume 2. Until that game is released, this is definitely one game that I’ll keep playing – it’s highly recommended.

Easily the best college basketball game of the year and one that every college hoop fan needs to own.

Strong Badia the Free is a great follow-up to Homestar Ruiner. The storyline is easier to follow, the jokes are tighter, and the puzzles are more challenging and intriguing.

It's a fast and fun racing game that is easy enough for beginners to pick up and enjoy while still a challenge for veteran players to master. The addition of online play (other than it's not so friendly friends system) and the introduction of the Wii’s motion technology add even more oil to what is already a pretty slick offering.

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.

One of the best game collections i've had the pleasure of playing this year. It deserves high marks for offering a wide variety of game titles and some pretty hefty game titles that fans of the 16-bit era will appreciate.

This is a brilliant game, a masterful work by the people at Paradox. Perhaps the biggest praise I can give it is that I plan on playing it on a regular basis far beyond the time it takes to review it. It's rare when a game captures my imagination to this degree, but Crusader Kings II still has its hooks in me.

If you got wrapped up in the original game’s story, you’ll almost surely want to see how it comes out, but there is nothing so unique about the game as an RPG that you’ll want to pick it up in the middle.

It's still an important and hugely influential game and it should probably be played by anyone interested in first-person shooters. But unless you're part of the generation of gamers that are now in their 20s and you're looking to recapture your Halo heydays, this is definitely most gamers can skip even at its budget $40 retail price.

Its multiplayer is disappointing, but the single player experience which is the real meat of the game is as solid as it ever has been and marks a great entry for the franchise onto the DS.

The game is amazingly well-crafted-the only negative is that unless you have room on your memory card to install a good chunk of game data, you'll be sitting through some halting combat transitions and some unbearable load times.

A game that hardcore RPG fans should surely pick up, otherwise they will kick themselves for missing out on a game that is both a good story and extends the standard turn-based RPG play mechanics with some nice additions.

Surely, if you already have a version of the game, two or three new boards won’t sway you into a re-purchase, but this is the definitive classic pinball sim on consoles.

If you have never played the game, then absolutely, Pirates is a must have for your PSP.

All things being equal if you have a PC that is capable of playing its version of the C&C 3 you are probably better off doing so, as the Xbox 360 does have significant flaws in its graphics handling and to some extent its control scheme.

I love the synergy of all these different play mechanics. On their own, these different bits would become stale very quickly, but together each compliments the other to create what I think is a brilliant game.

It may feel a bit different from the Final Fantasy you're used to, but Final Fantasy XIII deserves the chance to branch out and develop on its own.

Midnight Club Los Angeles is an excellent game brought down by its maddening difficulty level. It’s unfortunate to see Rockstar San Diego fall back into that ditch with this game seeing as how the rest of the package is loaded with arcade racing goodness.

In releasing this DLC, Gearbox and 2K have done what seems to be so difficult for other studios: drop a well designed, value laden expansion pack in a timely manner.

It has the same lack of subtlety and rapid pace - plus it looks better. But it comes off as an average and unnecessary entry in the series.

Fact is, I lost a lot of sleep due to Armored Princess, and gleefully played until the wee hours of the morning so despite its familiarity, it's impossible to not recommend it.

The episode is brimming with pop culture references that range from The Color Purple, Se7en, The Shining, and even Samuel Adams beer.

The differences between Halo Wars and a more traditional PC RTS are distinct. Yes, the controls aren’t as precise nor are there a great diversity of units, structures, or resources—but that's the point. By approaching the game as fundamentally different, the resulting design feels native to the console controller. In the end Halo Wars just plain works, and is a huge step in the development of real time strategy gaming on the consoles.

The game is worth a shot for anybody getting sick of the same old grind. Just be prepared for a real challenge, as staying alive can sometimes be just as hard as killing somebody else, if not harder.

There are a larger variety of vehicles this time around, with additions such as the ATV and monster truck almost bookending the assortment of bikes, buggies, and trucks that you can select.

SSX is a worthy addition/reboot (whatever we're calling it) to the series, although the whole Survive It shtick isn't nearly as robust as it was originally played up to be, and probably explains why EA dropped Deadly Descents from the name. While some feature are questionable, or questionably absent, as in the case of multiplayer, shredding the slopes in outlandish fashion is as enticing as ever.

In the end, that’s all this game is about: experience. The time you spend earning it is well worth it, not just because it makes your hero stronger but also because of the additive fun you have along the way.

A significant step up for this series. There are still holes that need to be filled such as the Legacy mode results and some on the floor AI gaffes, but on the whole this is the best college hoops game around and it will take a Herculean effort for EA's March Madness to be able to compete with it.

Regardless of its hang-ups, Catherine is unquestionably a recommended game, a completely unique experience that is destined to be a cult favorite.

Yes the controls can be imprecise and some may balk at the unfriendly save system but the colors, the whimsy and the style keep things entertaining. Most importantly, the game is just plain fun. Oozing with style and Day-Glo colored antics, de Blob takes platforming and transforms it with a beautiful new coat of paint.

The game's engaging story line, great voice acting and mix of humor and mayhem kept me coming back whether it was to spend some more time stealing ho's, or participating in Fight Club or simply chipping away at the gangs that took over my fair city while I was away. Add on an engaging multiplayer mode and seamless co-op and you have sandbox game that can proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the GTA's of the world.

With a healthy mission-based storyline and tons of collectables, this is a game with a good lifespan, and one that is easy to introduce non-gamers to.

There just aren’t many complaints you can have with a game that is as deep, complex and thoroughly engrossing as Out of the Park Baseball 9.

The campaign weaves a weak story that’s as incomprehensible as it is uninteresting, but it delivers on satisfying shooting and alien genocide enough to make it an entertaining venture that’s better off being experienced online with some buddies and a headset.

Minor additions and amazingly details visuals keep the experience fresh enough to justify a new game, but they aren't great enough to provide an evolutionary leap forward.

Although there may be times throughout the game where you will feel as though things are getting repetitive and drawn out, the play gets changed up at the right times and gives you a refreshing perspective to keep you going.

While it is a worthy first survival horror game for the Xbox 360, Condemned: Criminal Origins is a bit of a one-trick pony. Once the campaign is over, the player can go back to unlock more extras, but the game is pretty much done, and it has probably gotten repetitive to the average player by then anyway.

Most of the game is fantastic. Even with its hiccups, this is a game that is hard not to give a blanket recommendation to because as far as NBA games go, this is still the king of the virtual court.

World Adventures offers a refreshing and fun alternative playstyle in the Sims series.