This dark puzzle game will test your problem-solving abilities, as long as the design quirks don't kill you first.

A competent squad-based shooter that offers a fun cooperative mode and an artificial intelligence that is at times quite impressive and at other times completely boneheaded.

A trip back to golf's past moves Tiger Woods 14 into the future with some great new features, but the core game on the links holds pat.

Midway's arcade football franchise breaks all the rules, plus your arms, legs, skull, scrotum, and spleen. If that sounds like fun, it's because it is.

The updated graphics and new modes in Bionic Commando Rearmed aren't quite enough to distract from the cumbersome controls.

Lots of variety and funny cutscenes make the second Madagascar game a good reason to escape to Africa.

An action-packed story mode and plenty of extras make Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice a worthy sequel to one of the PSP's more innovative action games.

Wipeout HD may be a rehash of other games in the series, but a bargain price and fantastic 1080p visuals should please new and old fans alike.

A classic case of a game sequel giving you what you need, but not necessarily all you want.

This delightful downloadable game combines heartwarming aesthetics with devious puzzles to create an engaging experience.

A good sequel that will serve as an enjoyable entry point to serious racing; however, more experienced racing game players should stick to Shift's more realistic rivals.

In another hard-to-put-down game from PopCap, casual puzzles meet card games and role-playing games.

Major technical problems blemish this enjoyable and sophisticated adventure through the western wastes.

A good sequel that will serve as an enjoyable entry point to serious racing; however, more experienced racing game players should stick to Shift's more realistic rivals.

Regardless of the platform, it's good to see Metal Slug back in action with all of the same old intense gameplay that has made it such a hit with shoot-'em-up arcaders for more than a decade.

The really ingenious thing about it, though, is the majority of the characters, vehicles, and scenery contained therein have been drawn to resemble the Lego play sets that have been released to coincide with the films.

This role-playing adventure strikes an enjoyable balance between classic and new elements, risk and reward, combat and crafting.

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

Major technical problems blemish this enjoyable and sophisticated adventure through the western wastes.

Penny Arcade Episode 2 has the same humor and frantic combat of the previous game, but its devotion to the absurd will alienate some people.

Just as the addition of the Online Dynasty mode will satisfy many, the lack of significant improvements to other key modes of NCAA Football 09 will disappoint many others.

It's a lot of fun to paint the town red in this black and white open-world game, but the weak stealth elements limit your options.

The game just can't decide what it wants to be. The story tries to be epic in its scope and appeal to an older audience, but the game is extremely easy and the story's premise is thin and the ending disappointing. The core gameplay of shooting and platforming is as solid as ever, but it's diluted by too many uninteresting minigames and unnecessary gameplay mechanics.

This 2D hack-and-slash adventure lacks depth, but the striking backgrounds make it easy to get sucked into its world.

Surprisingly, you'll find that the graphics hold up remarkably well, and the control, though at times frustrating, is as unforgiving and challenging as in the original.

Dementium is a handheld mixture of Doom and Silent Hill that is about as scary as a game played on a 3-inch screen on the bus can be.

Not so brightly wrapped, but the game brings with it some unique gameplay elements and a great, ethereal visual style.

As if the lure of an evil founding father weren't enough, The Tyranny of King Washington ups the action with enjoyable new abilities and a stimulating plot.

This expansion doesn't radically alter the Sims gameplay you know and love, but it's got enough quality content to keep you partying late into the night.

A realistic war-zone atmosphere and rewarding stealth action make this an intense look at World War II, despite some problems.

Better control over collisions would have been nice, but the greater track selection and sheer number of additional multiplayer options more than makes up for such an omission.

While the game is sometimes hampered by its nostalgia, it successfully and entertainingly captures the feel of controlling a giant robot like no other game has in the past.

Dead or Alive 5 is a deceptive game. The subtleties of its solid fighting mechanics are easy to miss under all the flashy visual effects layered on top. It is a game new players can pick up and enjoy without feeling overwhelmed by too many options, while still offering complexity to those who know where to look. It's a dynamic fighter that can be enjoyed by players of all skill types.

Nazis and necromancy mix once again in this flawed but fun sequel.

Spying, puzzles, and acrobatic feats make Gunpoint a delight to play, but the overall experience is unfortunately short.

A solid game, worth the time of anyone who enjoys a good puzzle/adventure title. Those who lost interest in the series with "Tomb Raider II" may want to give it another look with the third.

Dead or Alive 5 is a deceptive game. The subtleties of its solid fighting mechanics are easy to miss under all the flashy visual effects layered on top. It is a game new players can pick up and enjoy without feeling overwhelmed by too many options, while still offering complexity to those who know where to look. It's a dynamic fighter that can be enjoyed by players of all skill types.

Intuitive controls, a lengthy career mode, and impressive online options make this mixed martial arts game a serious contender.

Stylish combat and white-knuckle driving make this an enjoyable James Bond adventure, despite some pacing issues.

Unique combat and cheery visuals make this kid-friendly role-playing game fun, despite some flaws.

This silly twist on capture-the-flag is as funny as it is strategic, but balance issues keep it from greatness.

Intuitive controls, a lengthy career mode, and impressive online options make this mixed martial arts game a serious contender.

The gameplay of Papo & Yo won't grab you, but its imaginative portrayal of a young boy's struggles makes it a worthwhile and special experience.

It may not be the most varied game of its type, but it's very good, and it's bent on leaving the genre in better condition than it was found in.

It can be endlessly frustrating, but it also has most of the elements that make the Jagged Alliance series so outstanding.

An intriguing new creation tool and widespread refinements make it another good year for Smackdown vs. RAW, but it still hasn't received the overhaul that it needs.

A sturdy campaign, challenging cooperative mode, and boisterous online multiplayer help SOCOM 4 make its predecessors proud.

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.

A competent game that looks like it's only going to get better as time goes on.

Though it can seem dilapidated at times, Metro 2033 is a dark journey saturated with an enthralling atmosphere that will reward intrepid adventurers.

A tricky and technical 2D platformer, Dustforce delights the senses with its harmonious score and sweeping sense of momentum.

Despite a slow start and some lingering issues, Revenge of the Fallen really makes it fun to be a Transformer.

It might not offer enough new stuff to make it worthwhile for owners of FlatOut 2, but Ultimate Carnage is still a riotous racer in its own right.

While it doesn't spring any surprises, Green Day: Rock Band packs high-energy rock into a solid package.

Galaxies adds a great deal of depth to an already intense shooter.

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

There’s much to do in this fun, but strictly offline fighting game.

If you're a "SimCity" fan who's not interested in solving other people's problems in the prefabricated scenarios or making your own material for the game, then you can let "Unlimited" pass you by.

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.

Thomas Was Alone utilizes its diverse characters and varied obstacles to create an engaging platformer.

Grim cityscapes and an intriguing moral dilemma help this Fallout 3 addition overcome its quirks.

While Sonic aficionados will be disappointed by the omission of a few notable titles, such as the superlative "Sonic CD," there's a ton of solid Robotnik-thwarting to be had with the Mega Collection Plus.

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.

World of Battles: Morningstar offers rewarding real-time strategy depth and tactics at a good price, at least initially.

The visual style may seem kid-friendly, but the level of challenge I-Ninja has to offer keeps the game interesting for a wider audience.

The first portable SoulCalibur is very good, but it lacks both compelling single-player content and online play.

Stylish combat and white-knuckle driving make this an enjoyable James Bond adventure, despite some pacing issues.

Arcade Edition is the most comprehensive version of Street Fighter IV released to date, and an essential buy for fans who don't already have Super Street Fighter IV.

From side quests to sound design, Silent Hill: Downpour isn't afraid of change. The result is a captivating game more expansive than the series has ever seen.

Though it lacks refinement in some areas, Strike Suit Infinity provides a better experience than its predecessor at a fraction of the cost.

Arcade Edition is the most comprehensive version of Street Fighter IV released to date, and an essential buy for fans who don't already have Super Street Fighter IV.

Pain is the video game equivalent of breaking fine china with a hammer: it's simple, crude, and not very cost-effective, but still rather satisfying.

Cars 2 is a colorful and varied racer that's a lot of fun to play with friends and family.

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

Despite feeling somewhat formulaic, this installment of Ys still provides a bunch of challenging, old-school hack-and-slash action for devoted thumb-warriors.

New multiplayer additions make this the best Lost Planet experience so far, but there's not enough here to warrant another purchase for veterans.

Cars 2 is a colorful and varied racer that's a lot of fun to play with friends and family.

The breakneck action of SNK's playfully over-the-top military shooter series still holds up, despite compromised motion controls and additional load times.

Multiwinia adds a multiplayer mode and even easier controls to the addictive gameplay and visually striking world of Darwinia.

It may not offer much of a challenge, but Solatorobo: Red the Hunter has enough variety and quirky charm to stand out from other action RPGs.

Because of its great looks, gameplay twists, and good cast of characters, Wild Arms 3 should appeal to most anyone who likes games of this type.

The gameplay of Papo & Yo won't grab you, but its imaginative portrayal of a young boy's struggles makes it a worthwhile and special experience.

Fallen Champions is a short and mostly sweet compression of many of the good elements in its King Arthur predecessor.

The old-timers out there may find that though the transition to 3D is novel, it doesn't really have much impact on the overall experience.

Medal of Honor offers a cohesive campaign and fierce multiplayer competition for those who don't mind a little bit of tarnish on their first-person shooters.

Wario Land doesn't shake any conventions, but it's still a fun, beautiful platformer.

Though it may be tempting to look at its flaws and dismiss Medal of Honor as inferior to its competitors, there is a lot to enjoy here. The campaign has its shortcomings, but its unique sense of scope and well-orchestrated pacing make it an enjoyably cohesive adventure.

The addictive gameplay and stylish design of N+ make the game as charming as it is challenging.

Baten Kaitos Origins' complex card-battle system and punishing foes weigh the game down, but it's a worthy adventure for role-playing fans who relish a challenge.

Lots of variety and funny cutscenes make the second Madagascar game a good reason to escape to Africa.

What Stoked lacks in frills it more than makes up for in snowboarding thrills.

Authentic arcade presentation and a smart assortment of challenges make this a great way to experience two very enjoyable Capcom arcade classics.

Medal of Honor offers a cohesive campaign and fierce multiplayer competition for those who don't mind a little bit of tarnish on their first-person shooters.

Syndicate's cooperative play is undeniably thrilling. Too bad the single-player campaign doesn't reach the same heights.

While there's nothing here that would warrant picking up this version if you already own the PlayStation 2 or GameCube editions, the Xbox version slightly edges out its brothers.

Grandia II may not look like much from a technical standpoint--disappointingly, the game actually looks a bit worse than the original Dreamcast version--but its visual design is well done.

EX3 may feel a bit rushed in some spots, but overall it's a fun and great-looking fighting game that won't disappoint longtime EX fans.

A fun, engaging little game, and it will have you running quick cash laps for longer than you'd like to admit--for the purpose of netting the next neat little power-up.