Throughout the campaign, several missions require you to tackle mobile “Arms Forts”. These are tremendously large battle platforms, bristling with heavy artillery, missile racks, and other surprises.

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.

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.

On paper, the new features of the game may not seem like much, but the resulting effort makes it one of the greatest music games available today and destroys any need, or desire, to play the original.

Remember when Blitz and NBA Jam ruled supreme, and we all got our first taste of the notorious Midway Comeback AI? I’m sad to say that a close relative of that AI seems to be present here.

Remember when Blitz and NBA Jam ruled supreme, and we all got our first taste of the notorious Midway Comeback AI? I’m sad to say that a close relative of that AI seems to be present here.

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.

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.

Feels like a cell phone game; been here, done that; terrible use of controls.

Absolute fanatics will undoubtedly get more out of the experience than casual gamers or puzzle game fans but even they will probably end up calling it quits before playing every game. It's a shame because successful game show games means we'll eventually get the Card Sharks game we so richly deserve, but for now, take a pass on this one and remember, to always spay and neuter your pets.

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.

What we have with NHL 2k9 is a top shelf hockey game that still needs some tweaking to perfect the on-ice experience. That said, the impact on the authenticity of the game of having such unparalleled realism in the realm of puck physics cannot be overstated.

What we have with NHL 2k9 is a top shelf hockey game that still needs some tweaking to perfect the on-ice experience. That said, the impact on the authenticity of the game of having such unparalleled realism in the realm of puck physics cannot be overstated.

If you want a deep strategy game, this is certainly not what you want to play. Spore is more diversion than obsession.

Unfortunately, while the quests and mini-games vary from region to region, overall gameplay is rather repetitive.

Even at the reduced $49.99 price point Facebreaker must be avoided unless you like no-brainer button mashing boxing.

Playing it alone showcases how repetitive the missions are and without that second player it is just you versus an AI that is far from intense or tactical. The numerous bugs and crashes that plague the PC version are troublesome, as is the game’s refusal to really adopt any of the advantages of the platform.

No-brainer button mashing boxing.

Even with its quirks and bugs, NFL Head Coach 09 is the type of game that will silently siphon away hours of your free time. Sitting down at night after the family has gone to bed to get in an hour or so of game time only to discover that all of a sudden it’s the middle of the night and your eyes are straining.

Even with its quirks and bugs, NFL Head Coach 09 is the type of game that will silently siphon away hours of your free time. Sitting down at night after the family has gone to bed to get in an hour or so of game time only to discover that all of a sudden it’s the middle of the night and your eyes are straining.

The basics for a great rendition of Warhammer are there, but they’re buried too deeply in the mire of frustration to be appreciated.

What we’re left with is a reminder that no matter who you are, the most important aspect of a game being successful and enjoyable is what goes into the product, not the names that are on the display case.

An ideal starter MMO for children, but challenging enough for adults. Kids will love the cute characters, colorful world, and grandiose combat animations (as well as the Potter-like setting) while their parents may be drawn to the Magic: The Gathering inspired combat card mechanic and online safety measures.

The game delivers entertaining - although sometimes frustrating, sometime hilarious and sometimes jaw dropping gameplay, and with a small bit of patience, it ends up being an amusing and for the most part, an enjoyable experience.

Looking at the whole product on paper, Tales of Vesperia really doesn’t do anything new or exciting. Instead, Namco Bandai takes the components for RPG success—a serviceable story, stellar writing, combat which doesn’t become a chore, anime-inspired visuals, and a fantasy setting with some roots in reality—and puts them together so well that the game just works. Is the game groundbreaking? No. Is it fun? You bet.

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.

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.

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.