From its terrific weapon crafting system to its deep well of side content, Dead Space 3 is a massive game rich with options and personalization.

The fun, tactical combat, the character-driven relationships, and the greater feeling of freedom combine to make Awakening the best installment of this beloved series in a long time. Anyone looking for a fantastic strategy game or a long, engaging adventure perfect for on-the-go sessions should absolutely not overlook this gaming gem.

Antichamber bends the rules of space and time with challenging puzzles and a fantastic sense of atmosphere.

Skulls of the Shogun is a light entertainment that remains enjoyable for just about every minute of its six- or seven-hour life span.

Strike Suit Zero's thrilling combat and awe-inspiring world make space combat feel like a relevant genre after years of stagnation.

Despite its sometimes tedious gameplay, Corpse Party: Book of Shadows is a rare horror game that manages to deliver on its intention to frighten its players.

The impact of the fantastic soundtrack cannot be overstated.

The Cave's puzzles are challenging, its story is well constructed and narrated, and its cartoon-like visuals and sprawling, morphing tunnels are pleasant to look at. Its mashup of elements from platformers and point-and-clicks fare less well, but if you can overlook those small flaws The Cave is a dark, yet humorous adventure that ably exercises the grey matter.

The only way to draw even the tiniest bit of entertainment from the game is by playing on nearly empty servers to avoid the player-killing cheaters and focus on the undead. Even then, you soon get fed up with the dreary zombie combat, or some hacker shows up and puts you out of your misery. Fighting zombie hordes in an apocalyptic wasteland has never been so depressing.

Forty dollars is a lot to spend for such simplistic and repetitive gameplay, but its position as one of the few shooters on the Vita goes a long way toward making up for this considerable shortcoming.

The frame rate flitters between playable and jerky, while many textures often load in slower than the rest of a scene, resulting in odd looking objects. There are also a few odd audio glitches, such as Dante's speech cutting off mid-sentence. These issues don't render the game unplayable, but they do make the PlayStation 3 version the weakest of the three.

There's no point in looking back: Dante has got a brand-new future in front of him, and if DmC: Devil May Cry is anything to go by, it's going to be a great one.

If you have the patience to endure its myriad technical problems, you'll find a captivating portrait of urban existence in Cart Life.

DmC succeeds both in its story and in its brilliant combat, and it looks the business too, despite a few minor glitches and the more colour-soaked levels looking like they've spent a little too much time in an Instagram filter.

Kentucky Route Zero is a pleasure to look at and interact with, brimming with anxious memories and begging you to peer into the distance. And yet it also comes across as a bit underdeveloped.

A bit short on content, but Forge is nevertheless a frenetic rush of competitive multiplayer action.

A beautiful and charming point-and-click adventure, despite a few idiosyncratic puzzles.

Survival in the woods is a creepy, fun challenge full of botanical terror in Miasmata.

A brutal platformer with old-school sensibilities that challenge your patience and capacity for the macabre.

If you've got the patience to learn as you play, then Planetside 2 will reward you with the tools of destruction required to bring its unique brand of chaos under control.

A visually breathtaking platformer, but unsatisfying puzzles make it less enchanting than it should be.

Even if you don't particularly care for Tolkien, there's a lot to love here in spite of the annoying server issues.

Baldur's Gate remains the same enthralling epic that it was in 1998, but bugs and lackluster extras make it tough to call this an enhanced version of the classic.

This is an ambitious and finely tuned adventure that gets better and better as you play.

What's left is all that combat, which seems to go on interminably with too little to break it up.

This $20 game does one thing well: it has a competitive multiplayer mode that blends tactics and action in a way that allows for some exciting and unpredictable battles.

Slingshot adds three good missions to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, but too easily blends into the dozens of hours that surround it.

Far Cry 3 is an excellent game, marred mainly by some irritating design elements and an inconsistent story that often defaults to generic "tribal" cliches to make an impact.

This is an ambitious and finely tuned adventure that gets better and better as you play.

This is by far the most feature-packed and enjoyable game in the FIFA series to hit a Nintendo console. It's not the best version out there, but it's a good start to the series on the Wii U all the same.

It's ultimately your duty to provide the fun because the included puzzles rarely test your skills, and though the extreme flexibility means it's inherently fun just to mess around, that does grow tiresome too quickly.

Though zombies mode is stagnating, the rest of Black Ops II is lively, and it is right at home on the Wii U. Developer Treyarch's storytelling prowess has once again resulted in an engaging, exciting campaign, and the online multiplayer population is likely to grow as more people acquire the new console.

It's a shame that the Wii U version of Assassin's Creed III is so prone to bugs and performance hitches; fortunately, the joys of exploration still shine through, allowing you to get lost in the bustle of cityfolk going about their lives.

A massive disappointment that tarnishes this highly regarded franchise. What's more, this is a blown opportunity for the Vita to garner itself a headline game and franchise that could have really energized the system. Instead, we get a quick, forgettable knockoff cranked out simply to take advantage of the buzz around the Black Ops name.

Mass Effect 3 retains its powerful impact on a new platform, merging action and storytelling into an exciting and memorable adventure across the Milky Way.

Power of Illusion comes together brilliantly; the modern additions to the classic action are intelligent ones that invite you to explore, to replay, and to enjoy every last bit of this great platformer.

Though it can be fun with friends in short bursts, Tank! Tank! Tank! doesn't have nearly enough depth or content to remain enjoyable for long.

Fun yet flawed, the postapocalyptic Ravaged is a ghost town.

Lego The Lord of the Rings is perhaps the finest treasure that the partnership has yet produced, a compelling mixture of cooperative gameplay, secrets galore, and a story that remains one of the most fantastic that Hollywood has ever captured on film.

The Wii U-specific additions put a few chinks in the Caped Crusader's costume, but Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition is still a great action adventure game.

The story veered off track in the last episode, losing a fair bit of steam after the introduction of an offputting new plot device--and the whole thing comes to a halt in this brief final act that lacks the devastating impact of the earlier episodes, despite more than a few heartbreaking moments.

No Time Left provides a fulfilling sense of closure to this first series of Walking Dead episodes, even while it strays from the story and characters that were developed in the earlier episodes.

The Walking Dead series shambles to a brief but moving conclusion that doesn't quite live up to the gruesome brilliance of earlier chapters.

A wealth of new content and gameplay additions make a modern role-playing classic better than ever in Persona 4 Golden.

Sonic's new racing adventure speeds past its predecessor and delivers a kart racer that can keep up with the best in the genre.

A smart, challenging strategy game with tons of depth.

Darksiders II comes with a few extra technical foibles on the Wii U, but the fluid action and intriguing exploration are still front and center in this expansive adventure.

Broken modes, both online and off, bring the otherwise enjoyable Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed to a screeching halt.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed doesn't depend on your nostalgia to be enjoyable. The core of the gameplay, the racing, is fast, fun, and easy to get into.

There are better, more fluid games out there for the serious fighter, and there are more accessible ones for those interested in a bit of silliness. In attempting to mix the two, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale merely ends up being competent at both and the master of neither.

Razor's Edge makes a myriad of fractional improvements that address many of the main complaints leveled against the original release. It's a welcome gesture, and one that makes for an improved action game--yet a hundred small fixes are no substitute for a game built from the ground up to be a challenging, fluid, and fulfilling action extravaganza.

Does a competent job of letting you sing a bunch of songs and occasionally earn points doing so.

Karateka is an attractive remake of a classic, but simplistic combat and limited replay value keep it from greatness.

Not every method of murder is as satisfying as you'd want, but Absolution plays well and looks sumptuous.

With an uninteresting world and dull combat, the survival horror game ZombiU is a weak link in the Wii U's launch lineup.

Nintendo Land isn't just a fine showcase of the Wii U's capabilities, though it certainly is that. It's also a great game in its own right.

It's consistently charming, often challenging, and an excellent illustration of that which makes Mario games so special. Nintendo seemingly recaptured traditional, distilled platforming, but also incorporated a newfound attention to modern gaming trends and expectations.

It's simply not worth suffering through hours of punishing game design to discover the occasional moments of nostalgic joy. Sadly, The Power of Two is another failed attempt at revitalizing Mickey's career.

Caught between striving for the future and remaining rooted in the past, Black Ops II finds solid footing, providing another great ride on the Call of Duty rollercoaster.

Though zombies mode is stagnating and the novel new social features are a flop, the rest of Black Ops II is lively and entertaining, and it's great to see some shifting in the familiar structure.

Of Orcs and Men's few design issues don't prevent it from being a fun, table-turning take on the age-old conflict.

It's a bit of a shame, really. Codemasters Racing is one of the best and most dependable developers of racing games out there, but F1 Race Stars simply doesn't live up to the high standard defined by F1 games of the past.

F1 Race Stars is a competent kart racer that fails to go that extra mile and, as a result, outstays its welcome sooner rather than later.

Once you see past the charming bobble-headed drivers and nods to F1, there's little here to hold your attention for long.

The campaign hits the same satisfying rhythms, the multiplayer captures the same frenetic intensity, and the cooperative zombies mode delivers the same stale undead-massacring action. Caught between striving for the future and remaining rooted in the past, Black Ops II finds solid footing, providing another great ride on the Call of Duty rollercoaster.

Wonderbook: Miranda Goshawk's Book of Spells is a great augmented reality adventure that deftly imagines the experience of spell-casting at Hogwarts.

Sticker Star falls into a rut at times and may even drive you crazy, but in the end, Paper Mario's unwaveringly cheerful attitude, and fond memories of the game's many great moments, will be what stays with you.

Natural Selection 2 offers a promising combination of strategy and first-person shooting, but disappointing execution holds it back. [Editor's Note: this quotation and score are from the original GameSpot review. Metacritic, per long-standing site policy, only accepts a publication's first review/score for a given game.]

Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward is a memorable and enthralling sci-fi/horror adventure that will have you glued to the small screen.

Kurt's trials partly arise from the traditional platforming challenge, of course, but trimming the more repetitive sequences and draining the bosses' health would have edged this effort toward the greatness enjoyed by some of its contemporary cousins.

Kurt's trials partly arise from the traditional platforming challenge, of course, but trimming the more repetitive sequences and draining the bosses' health would have edged this effort toward the greatness enjoyed by some of its contemporary cousins.

Thankfully, the core racing is exciting, and the lengthy story mode offers a variety of well-designed courses to compete in, so even if the community never takes off, there's still plenty of entertainment to be had.

Subtle refinements and a great campaign boost WWE '13.

The aerial combat is still thrilling, but some inexcusable issues make Zone of the Enders HD Collection a disappointing repackaging of two cult classics.

The aerial combat is still thrilling, but some inexcusable issues make Zone of the Enders HD Collection a disappointing repackaging of two cult classics.

Banana Splitz's disappointing collection of minigames can't live up to the standards of classic Monkey Ball gameplay.

Code of Princess is a fun and funny fantasy brawler that's unfortunately hampered by technical issues.

Every bit the massive shooter package that its predecessors were, and it holds the series' standard high. The thrilling and emotional return of Master Chief and Cortana is the highlight, and the campaign breaks new ground in narrative quality for the franchise. The top-notch competitive multiplayer picks up where Halo: Reach left off, infusing the action with some mainstream elements while still remaining undeniably unique.

Though Assassin's Creed III: Liberation toys around with intriguing concepts and centers its story around a character you desperately want to know more about, none of it comes together especially well. Liberation often excels, but it stumbles just as much.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted isn't quite a return to the racing paradise of some earlier Criterion games, but it's a mostly exciting ride nonetheless.

It's not quite the smooth, finely tuned speed machine it could have been, but Need for Speed: Most Wanted is still an exciting racer.

Other games stimulate emotion with manipulative music and teary monologues; Assassin's Creed III rouses your mind and your heart by giving you a glimpse into its characters' souls and letting you judge them on their own merits.

An intoxicating celebration of violence that will have you pounding the restart button for more.

A host of significant additions make this the most exhaustive, but also the most streamlined, Football Manager to date.

As a horror-tinged slaughterfest that vomits blood and bile on the face of modern first-person shooter convention, Hell & Damnation distills the essence of the Painkiller series into a tight, finely honed package.

You shouldn't dismiss the game as wholly unworthy: online multiplayer is good fun, and the campaign shows signs of life, occasionally letting you see past the me-too warfare and appreciate a brief flash of imagination. But on the whole, Warfighter leaves you thinking, "Yep, that's a military shooter, all right." Its heroes strive for greatness; the game they star in is merely serviceable.

Medal of Honor: Warfighter doesn't merge its cliched parts into a satisfying whole, making it just another middle-of-the-road military shooter.

Zombie Driver HD never grows more complex than slaughtering zombies with a car, but it makes up for that simplicity with sheer fun.

Lucius has an intriguing premise, but some not-so-original adventure-game flaws.

Mists of Pandaria's glittering forests and engaging activities feel fresh despite the game's reliance on familiar tropes.

Among the many games released each year, there aren't many that leave you contemplating and debating their story and worldviews long after the final set of credits has rolled. Virtue's Last Reward takes its place proudly among this crop of games. As fun and challenging as the brainteasers in the room escapes are, they're merely dressing for the fantastic writing, memorable characters, and stunning plot twists that could only be presented successfully in a game format.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories falls short as both a dungeon-crawler and a horror game.

Sure, Just Dance 4 doesn't bring much in the way of new features to the party, but if all you want is to have one hell of a fun, energetic, and hilarious time, there really is no party quite like a Just Dance 4 party.

Happy Wars suffers from serious technical issues that undermine an otherwise quality core experience.

A cast of five famous Bond villains conspire against you in 007 Legends, but the uninspired gameplay is your true nemesis.

Missed opportunities cower in every corner, ranging from an irreverence toward the subject matter in the disjointed story to the absence of familiar voices, and the gameplay feels like it started life as an amateur Bond-themed Call of Duty mod.

A striking action-packed shoot-'em-up that's up there with the best in the genre.

Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty delivers mild-mannered humor and a satisfying adventure for you to shoot and loot your way through.