Crimson Gem Saga's cheery veneer quickly wears away to show a simple, uninspired role-playing game.

Re-releasing Heavy Rain in the current landscape does much to sharply contrast everything good and bad about it. Its commendable presentation is amplified, as too are its grander faults in storytelling and voice acting. And yet even as there are games that succeed where Heavy Rain fails, it can still be said there’s almost nothing else like it.

Unlike its listless predecessor, Give No Shelter flies by, ending just as it reaches a critical, shocking apex, stoking anticipation for what's to come in the finale.

With new online modes and increased options for tuning and customizing your bike, MotoGP 07 certainly plays to the strengths of the series.

The outstanding gameplay mechanics will be familiar to fans of the series, but NHL 2K7 makes important strides in the realm of presentation with this year's 360 offering.

PES 12 may lack new modes, but substantial improvements to its AI, speed, and controls make it an exciting football game that's a lot of fun to play.

Tales of the Abyss is a familiar but entertaining role-playing game with a charming cast of characters that helps sustain the lengthy story.

The Rise of the Witch-King is a fairly standard expansion that adds a brief campaign centered around one of the more enigmatic characters from the movies.

As much as I've gotten used to modern, hold-your-hand RPGs like Mass Effect 3, there is something to be said for this take-no-prisoners blast from the past, especially if you love old-timey D&D as much as I do.

State of Decay is an immersive and suspenseful open-world zombie adventure that shouldn't be missed.

An excellent strategy game that fans of the original Dynasty Tactics will enjoy for the same reasons they enjoyed the first one and that gives new players a chance to experience this highly original, entertaining, and complex style of gameplay.

Tomb Raider: Legend is a very good action adventure game on the GameCube, which makes it all the more disappointing that it ends so quickly.

On the strength of its pacing and basic mechanics alone, Super Rude Bear Resurrection would make for an extremely engaging platformer. The addition of its corpse mechanic elevates it to something greater, allowing it to simultaneously serve as an extreme challenge for the most diehard platforming fans as well as a game that can be enjoyed by the novice crowd. Super Rude Bear Resurrection demands a lot from you, but the satisfaction of success is immense in the end.

Retro/Grade succeeds at bringing a fresh take to the rhythm genre and filling it with sensory pleasures, but a lack of music means it outstays its welcome sooner rather than later.

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

Sonic Colours offers a mix of 3D action and classic Sonic side-scrolling with dazzling visuals and exhilarating platforming.

For its new locations and weapons, the turbulent waters of Maine are a satisfying compliment to Fallout 4. But where Far Harbor succeeds in delivering more of the same great gameplay and oddball characters that made the main campaign such a joy, it can't muster an interesting story.

It's got all the new rule changes, as well as an almost entirely up-to-date roster, but considering how similar the game is overall to 2005's version, you have to ask yourself, "Is that really enough?"

By packaging last year's excellent "Far Cry Instincts" with a new campaign and a bigger multiplayer suite, Far Cry Instincts Predator delivers a ton of content to Xbox 360 owners.

By introducing new job-related skills, the ability to hire and fire employees, and a healthy number of new items, Open for Business makes it fun to put your sims to work.

Ultimately, Earth 2150 delivers complex and challenging gameplay - and even an absorbing story.

An enjoyable story-driven space combat sim that should meet, but not exceed, the lofty expectations of fans of the developers' previous games.

These technical problems, in addition to its short length and inconsistent quality, make Heavy Metal F.A.K.K. 2 the most frustrating kind of game: It's only decent, when it could have been great.

It creates the most accurate representation of the world of Springfield ever put into a game, and it manages to make the gameplay surrounding it quite a lot of fun. Additionally, the game's overall sense of humor is delightfully self-referential.

It doesn't really offer much in the way of new features--but likewise, it's still one of the best basketball games available.

With a terrible plot and an unforgiving difficulty level, Radiant Dawn is best left alone by anyone but the most hardcore of strategists.

It's not an ideal game--the gameplay can seem a little plodding at times thanks to the abundance of stats and options, and the AI is sometimes a little too skilled to be realistic--but overall, it's a perfectly good game of baseball.

Technically impressive, but its gameplay flaws really get in the way of the excitement.

If you do have a Transfer Pak, want to get more out of Gold or Silver, and enjoy a lot of battling, then Stadium 2 is a complete package and is definitely worth picking up.

Disgaea 3 does a lousy job of familiarizing you with its complex mechanics, but rewarding tactical depth and goofy humor make the learning curve worth climbing.

Bangai-O's transition to HD results in a frantic, challenging shooter with an agreeable price.

The notion of dictatorship as a role that you play for yucks is still there, if that's a hat you want to wear--though it's harder to indulge your own selfish impulses when you can see how your actions are condemning Lydia the lumberjack to a lifetime of poverty.

This sequel is slow to show off its best features, but once it does, you won't want to stop playing.

Autosport is a decent option, but when you go deep, the experience is soured by the finer details.

Smooth controls and a bunch of awesome tracks make this an exciting kart racer.

Lunar may not have modern aesthetics, but its gameplay and story are among the best of any RPG of any era.

From an exuberant campaign full of spectacle and variety to the way Extinction's unpredictable aliens force you to use those targeting skills in entirely new ways, Ghosts strikes an excellent balance between the familiar and the novel. This is a game that's keenly aware of the series' strengths, but doesn't find itself beholden to them. No matter what standard you apply, Call of Duty: Ghosts is a terrific first-person shooter.

There's a reason this space is so dreamily built--Solar Ash takes place inside a massive black hole, after all--but the game is at its best when it isn't treating those reasons as if they matter all that much. The late game leans a little too heavily into the story, including swapping out the strong boss battles in favor of a binary choice in the game's climactic moments. But, most of the time, that story is where it belongs: in the background. And, thankfully, Solar Ash has some gorgeous backgrounds.

This collection of 10 pinball tables offers more than enough variety to justify the price that you pay for infinite credits.

This slow-starting strategy game is deliciously destructible once you learn the ropes.

Top production values and exciting gameplay make Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood one call you should definitely heed.

Telltale's masterful storytelling keeps us hoping for the best even as that optimism is continually shattered by what is proving to be one of the most memorable tragedies ever told in gaming.

Ultimately, if you go into Crisis Core Reunion expecting a one-for-one remake of Crisis Core, quirks and all, you will not be the slightest bit disappointed. It is a greatly improved version of a great game, one that all Final Fantasy VII fans eager for more story would benefit from playing. While you shouldn't expect any new content or story revisions (sincere apologies to all of you who were hoping, I'll admit I was too), you can expect a powerful ode to the kindest man you'll ever meet and the legacy he passed on.

The breakneck action of SNK's playfully over-the-top military shooter series makes for a great fit on the PSP, despite some additional load times.

The lively competitive tapping of Rock Band Blitz puts an exciting spin on the entire, vast library of Rock Band songs.

Though Oreshika isn't the first to try and make an old-school RPG feel new or to make customizable characters feel like a family affair--Fire Emblem: Awakening tried something similar on a smaller scale, for example--it does feel like the first to completely bet the farm on that idea and succeed.

It adds seasonal weather, crop farming, and some new group activities that can actually make the challenging gameplay of Sims 2 a more relaxed pastime. For players looking for a slower-paced experience that doesn't require you to keep track of the ins and outs of an in-game business--or constantly watch a hyperactive pet--this is a good thing.

Helps make the Joint Operations experience an interesting and engaging one, though be prepared to face a noticeable learning curve and some frustrations at first.

The dialogue in Persona is, in a word, insane. Safe money says the translation team stayed up late watching Jerry Springer while they were working, because a good portion of the lingo is of the "Oh, my bad!" and "Girlfriend!" variety.

Despite the great way Out of Time handles emotional payoff, it suffers from problematic dialogue.

There's plenty of joy to be had for grown-ups in Trap Team, and more than a few laughs as well.

Beer and blood spray punctuate the fun punk rock brawler Charlie Murder.

The PC version of Viva Piñata is every bit as enjoyable as the Xbox 360 original, assuming your system is one that it chooses to run on.

Offers a surprisingly good personal training program but does make hearty demands of your lighting and space requirements.

By scaling back the difficulty a smidge and coloring up the presentation, Mercury Meltdown provides an even better puzzle game experience than its predecessor.

It's not only one of the best Dragon Ball titles, it's also a great action adventure game.

Sony's latest SingStar doesn't add any frills to the package, but it does have a delightful mix of '80s pop and rock classics.

Thomas Was Alone humanizes nondescript squares, creating an affecting and satisfying adventure.

Whatever awaits Clementine at the end of this road, she goes there with a full heart. If the finale lives up to the future set up in Broken Toys, so will we.

Like so many big games with dozens of complex moving parts, your enjoyment of PlanetSide 2 on the PlayStation 4 rests on how forgiving you are of technical hiccups you would properly expect to be vanquished.

NHL 2K7 for the Xbox lacks much of the forward progress of its Xbox 360 counterpart and instead provides a mostly great hockey game that you've pretty much played before.

It's a little pricey for what you get, but this is still one of the craziest, most entertaining side-scrolling shooters you'll play.

With terrific handling, gorgeous environments, and a broad selection of event types, Grid 2 slams on the gas and rarely slows down.

If you're tired of the genre, Airborne won't do anything to change your mind, but if you're looking to fight for the Allied cause yet again, it's a worthy tour of duty.

Though it lacks the base-building and economic concerns of its ancestor, Rebelstar delivers in a big way with a lengthy, engaging campaign married to an elegant turn-based combat system.

A Kingdom for Keflings offers an enjoyable and laid back city-building experience.

Its relative lack of originality can...undermine Red Faction's appeal for more-experienced players, for whom the game will provide mostly familiar territory. Nevertheless, Red Faction is an accomplished shooter in its own right.

NHL Hitz can be fun for the first few days of play, but its computer AI, which basically chooses which team wins, ultimately zaps the game of long-term replay value.

If you can tolerate its problems (inadequate camera options, its unreliable party-member AI), you'll find that Summoner is a game of hidden depth; a game with an interesting combat system, an intriguing story, and an enjoyable multiplayer mode to boot.

Thanks to a slick presentation, diverse gameplay, and overwhelming customization options, the game certainly comes close.

Considering its new campaign options, more-satisfying single-player missions, and tweaked gameplay, it's a safe bet that fans of the original game will have even more fun storming the castle.

Won't hold the Tony Hawk pro's attention for long, but it's still a fun, well-designed skating game.

The flaws in the passing and running game prevent "Madden 2001" from being completely enjoyable or realistic, which will disappoint fans of the series as well as those who are experiencing Madden football for the first time.

Addictive as a single-player experience and flat-out irresistible while playing in an online league, it shouldn't be missed.

For serious RPG fans who couldn't care less about the Final Fantasy brand of flash, though, it's hard to envision a more appropriate game.

An incredibly entertaining game that's certainly worthy of the attention of any kart-racing fan.

A more well-rounded game than either of its predecessors, and though it's unlikely to convert those who weren't impressed with past installments, fans of the first two games should find plenty to like here.

A slower, slightly clunkier wrestling game than what the PS2 version was able to deliver, but it still works great for the PSP's capabilities.

It may look like a little kid's game, but the latest entry in the MySims series is the best to date.

Easily recommendable not only to anyone with an interest in collectible card games, including fans of the original, but also to those who enjoy turn-based strategy games with a twist.

Even though the wingman mechanics and canyon races don't quite pan out, it's still a stylish and enjoyable street racer.

In addition to having incredible visuals, Top Gear Rally duplicates the slip-slide nature of rally racing fairly well. The game is easy to dive into, and there are plenty of tracks and adjustment options to keep you busy for a long time.

With Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, a respected series takes a nose-dive.

It finds a middle ground between being a destructive playground and an inventive puzzler, with enough variety throughout to make its brief playtime feel well-balanced. You certainly aren't the best person for any of the jobs you're thrust into, but it's a lot of the fun bumbling your way through it all anyway and still getting the job done at the end of the day.

Samurai Gunn revels in its own simplicity.

SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 successfully returns to the fundamentals of realistic WWE action and easy-to-use creation tools.

Combines gorgeous artistic design with enticing combat to create a memorable adventure.

Despite some drawbacks, this satisfying adventure is just what you'd want from a Ghostbusters game: it's funny and it's fun.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a fun, overly familiar adventure that lacks imagination in its level design.

Richard Garriott's newest online creation has its problems, but it's still a good amount of fun.

A good enough game, though barely anything has changed. It doesn't feel like it has been rushed, since it isn't buggy or broken in any way, but there's definitely a lack of proper maturation here that hinders the overall product.

Despite a wonky presentation and obvious technical hiccups, Capcom has successfully made Dead Rising 3 a more welcoming experience than its harsh predecessors. It can be an inconsistent experience, but I choose to ignore the game's peculiarities and play Dead Rising 3 in the spirit that I believe it's intended: running around in shark outfit shooting zombies with deadly dildos fired from a leaf blower.

The novelty of watching a little Lego person version of Obi-Wan Kenobi duel it out with Darth Maul certainly accounts for a large portion of the game's appeal, but on its own merits it's a fairly fun, inventive little game.

Splinter Cell makes a solid debut on the PlayStation 3 by delivering more of its signature stealth action gameplay along with its unique multiplayer modes.

The older console versions of Madden 08 offer a few control upgrades and a couple of bizarre new modes, but otherwise, this might as well be last year's game.

Exciting multiplayer battles make Mount & Blade: Warband a strong addition to the open-world role-playing game.

While I was left dissatisfied by the narrative conclusion of Hell is Us, its journey to that point was pleasantly engaging. It was refreshing to not just follow a quest marker through a story, but also a relief that I was never spun around for hours on end wondering where I needed to go next. This balance is what made traversing Hadea and experiencing all the horrors it contained a rewarding one, making each new step feel earned rather than routine. It's backed up by an imperfect but engaging combat system that's only let down by some shallow enemy variety and imprecise control, but never to the point of outright frustration. If Hell is Us is developer Rogue Factor's first stab at a new type of third-person action game and although it's less revolutionary than the initial promise might suggest, it is one that still managed to stay surprising until the end.

While its gameplay design may appear to be derivative, there truly isn't anything else quite like Alien Hominid on consoles today.