All in all, ODST is a solid addition to the Halo franchise.

As a single player game, it provides quite a bit of arcade action and the power ups make it a challenge and if you love to play online, this will keep you busy for quite some time.

It is seriously fun and I found myself playing this game late into the night just trying to beat "one more mission."

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 game isn’t flawless, but it is solid where it counts and does drive the series forward if only by a small margin.

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.

Soul Nomad is an awesome game if you get it. Fans looking for an experience similar to Disgaea may be turned off by its simplicity, but for this game has a lot going for it. The focus on strategy is refreshing, the voice acting is superb and the characters are compelling.

While Rift still has some things to iron out in terms of balance, bugs and lag, that's par for the course for any new MMO and since launch, the Rift team has been actively talking to the community and addressing their concerns. Although many of the quests could use a heavier dose of originality, the game as a whole offers a large amount of interest and fun; so much in fact, it just might lure more than a few players away from that other MMO.

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.

While not every change has been positive, the series was in desperate need of a fresh start, and now, in its sixth major iteration, it has one.

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.

There is a lot of game here for $15. Sure the controls could be a tad tighter (I do love the hoverbikes, though) and the graphics aren't in the same realm of other games in its class, even though this does lower the system requirements quite a bit, but Section 8: Prejudice is an excellent value and hopefully Timegate takes the revenue from this one and develops a new Kohan game.

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

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.

The action in SDB is slower than I would have expected from a sequel over a decade in the making. Still, the expansive character creation, crazy Supershots, and the nods to River City Ransom make all the flaws seem like the needless nitpicking of an obsessed fanboy.

Idiotic menu issues aside, N+ still provides a great value and tons of fun for anyone who picks it up. With over 40 different levels and a near-endless supply of downloadable user-generated content, it's hard to not see the value in such a simple and fun game.

In the end does the Suikoden series proud, as it had seemed to be drowning, this puppy has been brought back to shore, and resuscitated.

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.

Delivers what it promises - 15 arcade ports for around 30 bucks. These arcade classics work well on the DS and the bonus features certainly round out the collection's overall appeal.

If there’s anything I’m not a huge fan of it’s the constant trek through the dungeons, which is akin to a first person shooter with crates, but Bethesda seems to be pretty creative with their dungeons so there’s not as much of a sense of been there done that as there is with many other RPGs.

NHL 09 is not a simulation of professional hockey. It’s a game. A fun game, no doubt, but it’s more like an entertaining movie based on a good book which was based on actual events.

If you own a Kinect, want to work out, and are interested in combining those two pursuits, this is a solid bet. Mixing proven routines, tons of boxing/MMA moves, and a macho, no-nonsense look and feel, this has serious potential to upend EA Active for many. EA's game still has the edge in terms of trainer feedback and the sheer variety of activities, but the focus on kicking ass (or, at least training like a real ass-kicker) here is incredibly appealing. Just be sure not to over-extend or bang your joints!

There are a few niggling problems and annoyances on and off the field that keep the game from being picture perfect, but by and large, MLB The Show 08 for the PS2 offers a very realistic and entertaining brand of baseball.

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

With the new additions of online play and downloadable content, Sony has created a quiz game which will not only stay fresh and new, but will also make it easier than ever for friends and families to play with one another no matter where they are.

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.

The game is by no means an "American Idol simulator” and probably won't help you score a trip to Hollywood at the next NY audition (if you can't sing now this game won't be the silver bullet for your shortcomings in that department), but it is certainly a lot of fun to play.

Take any thoughts of how the game is based on a movie out of your head, as The Bourne Conspiracy is a compelling action game built on mostly solid gameplay ideas.