The charms, variety, and authenticity of this unusual compilation of 8-bit-style games help it shine in spite of some flaws.

It's short on scares, but satisfying shooting and exciting cooperative play make F.E.A.R. 3 a thoroughly enjoyable shooter.

The Force Unleashed's action can be incredible, though it too often strays from what it does best.

The pure joy of commanding a small army of malicious minions more than makes up for Overlord's minor shortcomings.

Echochrome is a unique experience that's easy to recommend.

Solid gameplay, numerous options, and attention to detail make Railroad Tycoon II an excellent simulation.

The technology behind Sega Rally Revo is undeniably impressive and the driving is a good bit of arcade fun, but the game's staying power is highly questionable.

The conclusion to DeathSpank's tale doesn't veer far from the original, but that doesn't make it any less fun.

At its best moments, Snapshot is a delightful adventure. The variety of ways in which you use items makes you continually think up new ideas, and some are so silly that it's hard not to smile.

Overclocked may be awfully grim, but a deep story and smart, subtle puzzles make it captivating in spite of its macabre tone.

Fossil Fighters' robust roster of collectible dinosaurs and its fast-paced, lightly tactical battles make it an appealing adventure.

Technical issues aside, Gotham City Impostors is a consistently thrilling experience that's easy to recommend.

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

It's short on scares, but satisfying shooting and exciting cooperative play make F.E.A.R. 3 a thoroughly enjoyable shooter.

Derivative as it is, Conan is still a viscerally satisfying adventure.

Hexic 2's new multiplayer mode adds frenetic new fun to an already-sharp puzzle game.

Gotham City Impostors is frantic fun for shooter fans who want something a little different.

This motion-controlled sports collection doesn't do much for solo players, but it's fun to play with friends both locally and online.

Great online options and an innovative experience system make this poker game difficult to put down.

Who knew that working on a box-making assembly line could be this much fun?

Despite some strategic elements, it really is a pure action game at heart, filled with plenty of targets to shoot at, plenty of power-ups to collect, and a good variety of tough missions to accomplish.

Gotham City Impostors is frantic fun for shooter fans who want something a little different.

Absorbing gameplay and an epic plot make this Dragon Quest remake worth the wait.

Experienced role players will enjoy the engaging combat and fascinating diplomatic gameplay, in spite of Vanguard's litany of bugs and singular focus on group adventuring.

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

Kingdoms of Amalur's combat and character advancement are fantastic enough to overshadow how bland everything else is.

World Championship Poker 2's offline play is the best you'll find amid this year's competition, and the online play is still pretty engaging.

This charming rhythm game is especially good for first-timers, but it's a little light on content.

This shallow but rambunctious arcade racer may have only one trick up its sleeve, but it's a really good trick.

Midnight Club is fast, beautiful, and way too hard.

Kingdoms of Amalur's combat and character advancement are fantastic enough to overshadow how bland everything else is.

NBA Live 09's gameplay has again seen some improvement, but there are still a few rough edges.

The only serious drawback with Cities in Motion is the single-minded nature of the simulation. You need to have--or at least be able to develop--a real love of mass transit to get much out of the game.

A tepid campaign mars this otherwise solid real-time strategy follow-up.

Warlock: Master of the Arcane's emphasis on combat makes it feel fresh in the 4X strategy genre. It just needed some fine-tuning to be truly great.

Dark Sector lacks the compelling storyline that it alludes to early on, but offers plenty of enjoyable combat nonetheless.

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.

Quest for Booty ratchets up the fun, but its strict adherence to the series' formula won't bring in new fans.

Once you're used to floating diagonally and hopping ledges toward loftier areas, the game becomes quite fun.

El Diablo's Domain brings three new costumes and a series of challenges to Guacamelee that will push even expert players to their limits.

This may be a touch disappointing to hardcore fans of "CTR," but anyone looking for a solid kart racer should be quite pleased.

This arcade-style aerial-combat game has plenty to offer those flying solo, but it doesn't offer much in the way of competitive multiplayer content.

Easy enough for anyone to pick up, yet it has enough multiplayer appeal to stay interesting for a good long time. So, if you've got a crew of friends ready to pick a Nintendo character and throw down, then Super Smash Bros. is definitely worth a purchase.

Question: What is a fun trivia game with cool controllers that's fun to play in groups? Answer: Buzz! The Mega Quiz.

If you're up for a challenge, it's among the small number of quality games in the growing 3DS library worthy of a spot on your shelf.

The most fundamental aspects of moment-to-moment interaction fail to engage, and this is the unfortunate first impression that could push players to a more immediately fun game. Sadly, the wonderful flexibility and challenge of the Secret World is lost on anyone that quits early on.

Boring combat threatens to ruin your fun, but exciting platforming and strong artistic design make the prince's latest adventure well worth playing.

It's likely that only those players who have already acquired a taste for Metal Slug's rich blend of crazy, manic violence and goofy humor will fully appreciate this package.

Other than a few specific problems, O.R.B. is a well-made game. It lacks inspiration, but it's a good enough real-time strategy game for those who are tired of being confined to terra firma.

So while Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 may not take the series in a big and bold new direction, or benefit from the kind of refinement you would look for in a sequel, it does deliver the button-mashing, power-flinging, over-the-top action fans of the original would expect.

Old meets new in Revenge of the Wounded Dragons, an engaging retro beat-'em-up that borrows a few ideas from platformers.

Those who fondly remember the original should beware though: One particular idiosyncrasy of the original--the overabundance of random battles--may overpower both the nostalgia factor and the relative dearth of new content.

A memorable setting and engaging characters make Culpa Innata a strikingly unusual adventure game.

The 40th Day has the same shallow appeal as a summer blockbuster. It provides brash, satisfying action when you're in the mood for something loud and fun.

Fun combat and crafty puzzles make this a good companion to the blockbuster movie.

Lost Odyssey doesn't rewrite the rules for turn-based role-playing games, but its great story and minor formula tweaks will keep you entertained.

This gorgeous, overpriced action platformer is fun on your own or with a couple of friends.

Though a lot of players will find the less-forgiving-gameplay style of the game to be a bit of a turnoff, this is still a solid game of tennis, and it's the best one to have appeared on the PlayStation 2 in years.

Though brief, The Simpsons Game on the DS satisfies from start to finish.

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

The main character of this cleverly designed game gets to swing around using his tongue and inhale grubs and other bugs, but it's a whole lot more pleasant than that.

Asphalt: Urban GT 2 is a fun and visually impressive arcade-style racer, even if it is just an evolutionary upgrade of the original game.

The MK and DC crowds are a surprisingly good combo, but questionable roster balancing keeps this enjoyable fighter from achieving greatness.

Its barrage of online and offline skirmishes doesn't always hit its mark. But when it finds its target, Company of Heroes 2 delivers a loud and mighty payload.

The rerelease of this classic brawler will gladly take you for a ride, but the trip isn't without its share of potholes.

Despite some difficulty spikes, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is a welcome addition to the booming collection of Xbox 360 trivia games.

Nowhere near as pretty or diverse as the original 1996 PC game, but it's easily the best FPS to hit the GBA since "Doom."

If the heavy focus on trial and error doesn't rattle you, Stuntman: Ignition can be some explosive fun.

Prey's campaign won't take too long, and it's rarely difficult, which makes it a solid choice if you're looking for an easy weekend romp. But much of the game's potential for unique thrills feels wasted by its straightforward level design, and the multiplayer doesn't add much to the package.

ShootMania Storm's sleek action is an invigorating return to the days of speedy, purely skill-based shooters.

EA's latest skater caters to newcomers and experienced boarders alike, and features a robust system for creating and sharing content.

If you're looking for a 2D fighting game that's totally nuts, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core will give you what you want.

Frame rate and control issues aside, Tomb Raider: Anniversary remains a dynamic and exciting adventure.

Great swordplay carries the weight in Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword.

Hoard is a simple but addictive multiplayer strategy experience that's unfortunately singed by a few design choices.

Though it's a fairly rote platformer with some coloring-book underpinnings, Drawn to Life's drawing mechanic is undeniably unique.

Attention to battlefield detail and smart AI make XIII Century a serious real-time tactical challenge.

Bit.Trip Beat is a fast, furious rhythm game with fun and exciting gameplay despite its eccentricities.

It may be about garbage, but Trash Panic is not rubbish: It's an innovative puzzler that rewards patience, planning, and those looking for a healthy challenge.

This gritty and profane detective tale winds down to a sound conclusion.

It's got some flaws and it's not very long or replayable--you'll probably finish it in 12 to 15 hours, without much incentive to go back to the beginning--but it's fun while it lasts.

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

It's got new goalie controls and marginally improved graphics, but taken as a whole, NHL 2K6 just isn't as appealing on the 360 as it was on other platforms.

Orc: Vengeance is an engrossing dungeon-crawler wrapped up in some beautifully detailed visuals.

Terrifying moments make Corpse Party a get-together worth attending.

The definition of a sleeper -- a marvelous little racer that deserves a little more limelight than it has received so far. In truth, the game excels on all fronts, providing a deep sim-based RC experience, with an intuitive control scheme accessible enough for anyone to pick up.

Despite some frustrations, Red Steel 2's stylish blend of shooting with swordfighting is frequently exciting and makes good use of motion controls.

Tiger Woods 07's excellent use of the Wii's motion-sensing abilities makes it a worthwhile purchase for anyone looking to hit the links on the Wii.

The best part of Luminous Arc is its balanced and accessible gameplay, though it lacks some narrative depth.

If you're looking for a 2D fighting game that's totally nuts, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core will give you what you want.

Horses and controllable cats and dogs give The Sims 3: Pets a good deal of heart.

A good entry point to the series, but if you've played any recent Mortal Kombat game, you'll notice that most of this stuff has been recycled.

Imaginative puzzles and explosive boss fights are the most exciting elements of this sequel, but a new emphasis on shooting brings some frustration to the mix.

This Battlefield-style shooter isn't very original, but it's still pretty fun.

Just remember to keep your expectations in check: Final Fantasy XIII-2 isn't a timeless adventure in the grand tradition of the beloved series. But if you're curious to see the next stage in this ongoing tale, there's no reason you shouldn't chase after Lightning. After all, she can't defeat Caius without you.

While the gameplay in Tony Hawk's American Wasteland is still sharp, and the game still looks and sounds just fine, this seventh installment just seems to lack that special spark that made the series so much fun in the first place.

Don't be fooled by its cuddly exterior. With 20 tracks, four battle arenas, and a plenitude of hidden characters and cheats to unlock, Mickey's Speedway USA has enough substance to keep even the most dedicated kart racing fanatics coming back for more.

For World Tour players who are on the fence, Guitar Hero: Metallica is a solid game with a strong setlist that offers you a great fake-plastic-rock experience.