Reduced micromanagement and streamlined automation make Hearts of Iron III an absorbing game of grand strategy.

This shallow, simplistic beat-'em-up is stuck in the past.

A cruelly hijacked story makes this otherwise serviceable game a pale shadow of adventures past.

With a little effort, SingStar Queen's riotous rock will make you feel like a star.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is full of things that make you go "hmm." Why do midlevel checkpoints update your score but not save your game, forcing you to restart from the beginning if both characters die? If you're going to steal from Gears of War, why steal the slow-walking, earpiece-cradling mission updates?

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is full of things that make you go "hmm." Why do midlevel checkpoints update your score but not save your game, forcing you to restart from the beginning if both characters die? If you're going to steal from Gears of War, why steal the slow-walking, earpiece-cradling mission updates?

This action game teaches a valuable lesson: Avoid poor film tie-ins.

A few bright spots prove that this clumsy, unsatisfying film tie-in could have been much better.

Don your big yellow hat and venture into burning buildings in this engaging firefighting simulation.

It may be a change of scenery, but the final Fallout 3 downloadable content pack ends the saga on a low note.

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

This arcade shooter is too short and generic to justify its high price.

Memento Mori is a plodding adventure that makes the world of art forgeries and ancient mysteries seem dull.

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

This naval-centric strategy game merely treads water.

The PC port of this inconsistent action adventure smacks of indifference.

This humorous and enjoyable adventure is seaworthy, despite some visual choppiness.

A wide variety of games and accessible-yet-deep controls make Wii Sports Resort a must-have party game.

The King of Fighters XII is the latest chapter in 15 years of fighting game history. It's also a disappointment.

The King of Fighters XII is the latest chapter in 15 years of fighting game history. It's also a disappointment.

Shatter is brick breaking at its best--simple, innovative, and beautiful.

This is one of the most original platformers to come down the road in a while and is one that just might be good enough and addictive enough to spawn a new franchise.

This deep, challenging, and beautiful RTS-RPG hybrid is cleverly disguised as a child-friendly introduction to the strategy genre.

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

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

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

Jumping around is a lot more fun than engaging in combat in this licensed movie adaptation.

These two episodes boast brutally entertaining combat, but repetition dampens the excitement after a while.

The mandatory movie pack-in makes this shallow yet brutally entertaining action game a questionable value.

This tower-defense-style game brings some unique ideas and bizarre humor to the table, but is hampered by frustratingly unpredictable units.

One brutally boring brawler.

If you've got opposable thumbs, a sense of humor, and a brain that you're not afraid to use, this puzzle-filled adventure is one well worth taking.

Fast-paced multiplayer with a dash of strategic depth gets Madballs rolling, but stuttering visuals and lag issues may bring your fun to a screeching halt.

If you've got opposable thumbs, a sense of humor, and a brain that you're not afraid to use, this puzzle-filled adventure is one well worth taking.

Officers boasts some interesting strategic considerations, including a focus on reconnaissance and realistic supply concerns, which have been lacking in recent RTS games. However, the practically nonexistent multiplayer, the punishing difficulty, the exhaustingly long missions, and a few other annoyances make it a difficult game to recommend.

NCAA Football 10 is a great football game that offers a new level of accessibility for newcomers, but keeps the core mechanics that veterans love.

NCAA Football 10 is a great football game that offers a new level of accessibility for newcomers, but keeps the core mechanics that veterans love.

This multiplayer-only slice of the Battlefield series packs plenty of thrills into a downloadable package.

This multiplayer-only slice of the Battlefield series packs plenty of thrills into a downloadable package.

The excitement of arcade-style supermoves, combined with the deep mechanics of the real sport, makes The Bigs 2 a thrilling baseball game.

The excitement of arcade-style supermoves, combined with the deep mechanics of the real sport, makes The Bigs 2 a thrilling baseball game.

The excitement of arcade-style supermoves, combined with the deep mechanics of the real sport, makes The Bigs 2 a thrilling baseball game.

This ambitious military sandbox game comes close to realizing its potential but falls short due to its buggy single-player campaign.

The psychedelic sequel to Bit.Trip Beat improves upon its predecessor and has an entirely different sort of rhythm shooter action.

This online first-person shooter is too shallow and buggy to entertain for long.

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

Robust and challenging single-player modes, strong online multiplayer, and gorgeous visuals make this a must-have for any fighter fan.

By improving on its predecessor, Worms 2: Armageddon adeptly captures the thrill and hilarity of this classic series.

The Half-Blood Prince is a lousy representation of the best-selling novel.

A forgettable experience, pushing players through the same three minigames over and over again, without ever capturing the thrill of being a wizard. The story lacks focus and is difficult to follow, giving players only the faintest motivation to continue on before it finally ends on an emotionless, anticlimactic note. The Half-Blood Prince squanders its impressive license; you're better off reading the book again.

This puzzler had potential, but a few stumbling blocks suck out much of the fun.

Though the game is marred by its short length and weak enemy AI, those looking for a fun and different shooter experience shouldn't have any hesitation about biting the bullet and taking a ride with the McCalls.

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

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

Ice Age may be kid-friendly, funny, and faithful to the movie, but it's also repetitive and over too quickly.

Ice Age may be kid-friendly, funny, and faithful to the movie, but it's also repetitive and over too quickly.

BlazBlue is a worthy successor to Guilty Gear. It's also a fast-paced, colorful fighting game with a lot to offer.

BlazBlue is a worthy successor to Guilty Gear. It's also a fast-paced, colorful fighting game with a lot to offer.

If you live a life of sin and gluttony, Infernal will be waiting for you in the afterlife.

Mega Man Star Force 3 is another disappointing installment in a tired franchise in need of a reboot.

Mega Man Star Force 3 is another disappointing installment in a tired franchise in need of a reboot.

This board game translation is a lot of fun, but it could have been so much more.

Stepping into Fight Night Round 4's ring is definitely recommended if you have any interest in the sport whatsoever, just be aware that not everyone you come up against will be fighting in the spirit of the Queensbury rules.

Stepping into Fight Night Round 4's ring is definitely recommended if you have any interest in the sport whatsoever, just be aware that not everyone you come up against will be fighting in the spirit of the Queensbury rules.

The excellent control scheme is able to save this otherwise average adventure for a little while, but the many missteps of the campaign become suffocating before too long. The multiplayer, too, is entertaining for a few hours, but the seven maps are too simple and predictable to provide a consistently thrilling experience.

This fantastic hybrid role-playing game will pull you in with its thrilling story and keep you coming back for more.

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

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

While it can be fun to be a Transformer, this port is hamstrung by a number of technical issues.

This bland, uninspired adventure will probably make your wrist hurt. Fortunately, it's over quickly.

This dull and unpleasant action game is in desperate need of a tune-up.

This colorful golf game offers so much great single-player content that it'll be weeks before you notice the lack of any online functionality.

This game of exploration and city building hits the occasional rough patch, but it's a captivating adventure nonetheless.

This expansive arcade racer may be ambitious, but it doesn't nail all of the basics.

This demon-controlling adventure lets you do more fun things with your evil minions, but Overlord II hasn't shaken all of the issues that held back the first game.

This demon-controlling adventure lets you do more fun things with your evil minions, but Overlord II hasn't shaken all of the issues that held back the first game.

You can do more fun things with your minions, but Overlord II hasn’t shaken some of the issues which held back the first game.

It's another Empires iteration of a Dynasty Warriors game, and it comes with all the tedium and light strategy you'd expect.

It's another Empires iteration of a Dynasty Warriors game, and it comes with all the tedium and light strategy you'd expect.

Serious control issues spoil an already bland adventure.

Dark Legend possesses all the sly wit you'd expect from an Overlord game. Too bad the action and the once-engaging puzzles are all dumbed down.

Even with tens of hours of new content and welcome improvements over its predecessor, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite has yet to hunt down a few critical annoyances.

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

It's complex and daunting, but this rich game of exploring, city building, and trading is also tremendously captivating.

This game of exploration and city building hits the occasional rough patch, but it's a captivating adventure nonetheless.

This funny, fast-paced multiplayer shooter will have you repeatedly begging your friends for just one more rematch.

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

Ghostbusters is such riotous fun that you'll forgive its short length.

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

Some busted mechanics and picky controls will make you think twice before bringing these Ghostbusters on the road.

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

PDC 2009 improves on last year's game in many keys areas, but it still doesn't hit the bull's-eye.

Roogoo Attack is harmless enough, but unlike the best puzzlers, it won't get under your skin.

It's Groundhog Day meets Philip K. Dick in this entertaining but muddled mystery adventure.

MySims Racing doesn't shatter kart-racing conventions, but it has a couple of fun new ideas that set it apart from the pack.

MySims Racing doesn't shatter kart-racing conventions, but it has a couple of fun new ideas that set it apart from the pack.

This party game is a bit light on content, but its bizarre controls and unusual selection of games make it fun to play with friends.

This open-world action game set in Manhattan is proof that even viral outbreaks can be incredibly fun if they're done right.