A fun adventure game with a decent collecting aspect and a few fun minigames. But compared with meatier strategy RPGs, like Pokémon or Robopon 2, it is difficult to imagine the game keeping anyone's interest over the long term.

Actually manages to provide just the right balance between sim-style play and arcade-style antics.

Above all, Anodyne never lets you forget that it's a game more concerned with the journey than with the destination, and at 10 bucks, it's a journey worth taking.

Fract is overstuffed with platforms that need raising, sliders that need switching, and tumblers that need rotating. Without any mooring to the game's theme, they're left to sink or swim on the enjoyment they can provide in isolation.

The fun of risk-and-reward gameplay comes from actually earning the rewards; if the rewards aren't good enough, or if the risk is too heavy, the fun turns to frustration. For all of Lords of Fallen's good ideas, it struggles to make the payoff worthy of the investment. Its meandering level design and slogging encounters turn challenge into tedium, leaving a feeling that getting up and doing something else would be time better spent.

2K football returns with solid gameplay and a new focus on classic players, though the roster isn't the only aspect of the game that feels old.

Ghostwire: Tokyo doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to open-world games, but its unique setting, tremendous attention to detail, and singular combat make it stand out amongst its contemporaries. The story stumbles and not all of the side missions are particularly engaging, yet these aspects are easy to push to the back of your mind when you're using finger guns to tear through corrupted spirits with dazzling aplomb. Shinji Mikami is a legendary director, but taking a backseat and letting new voices come to the fore has paid off.

It's understandable that Sony wants to link the two versions of the game every year, but more acknowledgement that these are two different games for two different platforms and even two somewhat different audiences would make the Vita version stand on its own much better.

A multiplayer shooter that cobbles together elements of massively multiplayer games but overlooks the lessons developers of such games learned many years ago.

Despite its many cheap shots and frustrating moments, Uprising is a highly creative animal that changes constantly and keeps you on your toes.

This is a pretty-looking, short, budget-priced, by-the-numbers futuristic shooter that's most notable for its episodic nature and its old heritage.

On the DS, Call of Duty 4 is an intense first-person-shooter that's knocked down a few pegs by the lack of online play.

Essentially a collection of minigames tied together by the age-old story of unrequited love, Feel the Magic: XY/XX ends up providing an engaging experience that is more than the sum of its parts.

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

Mafia II's exciting action and uncompromising mob story make for an impressive and violent adventure.

The well-realized license in this third-person shooter can hide the myriad problems for only so long.

Ace Combat Zero may not do anything particularly different or better than its predecessors, but it still delivers some excellent dogfighting and a good story tying it all together.

There's no denying that when you find a good group and you're fighting, chatting, and gaining levels, Shadowbane is at least as good as "EverQuest" and Dark Age of Camelot.

Has a lot of personality and some interesting city-building gameplay, but is weighed down by a few problems not found in some of the previous games of this type.

A few aspects of Test Drive Unlimited have been lost in translation from the Xbox 360 to the PlayStation 2, but even still, the game is an impressive piece of online-racing technology.

The story behind Sand Land's creation is funny but also sad in a way. Toriyama initially made Sand Land for his own personal enjoyment, devising a short story about an old man and his tank. However, the tank proved more challenging to draw than expected, and since Toriyama stubbornly insisted on drawing everything himself, he came to regret the idea. He persevered anyway, eventually releasing the manga for public consumption, and his pain was certainly our gain. Toriyama's love of vehicles shines through in Sand Land and is where its most enjoyable moments reside. It's disappointing that it flounders in other areas, particularly when it comes to stealth and melee combat, but ICLA has still managed to capture the heart and spirit of the original manga through its story, characters, and vehicular combat and traversal. Sand Land is bittersweet in many ways, but it'ss a testament to Toriyama's talents as both an artist and storyteller that, despite its numerous flaws, it's still worth playing.

Average gameplay and an unforgettable main character merge in this short but endearing adventure.

This block-busting platformer has plenty of quirky charm, but the action is too simple to be interesting for long.

This fascinating hybrid of real-time strategy and collectible card battling offers a unique and enjoyable take on both genres.

Madden NFL 08 is a good handheld football game, but it offers little new content to make it worthwhile to those who already bought last year's game.

It's hard to convey the toughest moments, those moments that we compartmentalize and repress beyond recognition as adults. And it's especially hard to convey such moments in language and images that both children and adults can appreciate and understand. That Gravity Ghost accomplishes this feat with such seeming ease is a testament to its imagination and its power.

As a simplistic hybrid of a shooter and hide-and-go-seek, Elebits works best as a demonstration for what the Wii's motion sensing technology is capable of--though it's not a half bad game, either.

Smackdown vs. Raw is showing its age, but there's plenty of fight left in this old superstar.

A pretty faithful remake of a fondly remembered NES game, though this works against its success almost as much as it helps its cause.

It's not the most immediately appealing of games, due to its uninteresting character lineup, but digging beneath the surface reveals a solid fighter that's fun to learn and play. It's unlikely to replace some of the bigger, more technical, and prettier fighters as your go-to versus game of choice, but it's a pleasant, enjoyable diversion when you need some airy, unfettered fun.

What it does at its core it does so well that all those issues floating on the periphery eventually fade away to reveal a satisfying if slightly blemished return to classic survival horror.

Full Metal Furies is primarily a brawler, and a good one that promotes teamwork instead of button-mashing. But it's also a very hard puzzle game, one that challenges you to perceive each level, as well as the game's mechanics and characters, in new ways.

You'll have a good time with Folklore, despite some design and storytelling quirks.

If you're already a Magic expert, this is an acceptable way to get in a few games online with friends, though you'll likely find the inability to create your own deck to be a pretty major drawback. If you're a Magic neophyte, you'll get more out of this experience.

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

Rive is demanding, but it pushes the kind of near-thoughtless play that shoot-em-ups strive to achieve. When faced with an onslaught of enemies and environmental hazards, you'll have to think fast or die. Rive also doesn't run all that long, but what's here is excellent, top-notch action, and the game delivers some of the most memorable moments in a shoot-em-up in years.

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

It's difficult to recommend Total War: Rome Remastered to anyone who didn't already play and love the original game as the series has significantly evolved for the better over the past 18 years. A new lick of paint and some quality of life improvements aren't enough to make this remaster an appealing option for newcomers when better Total War games already exist. That's not to say it doesn't deserve its place either. At this point, Rome: Total War is unaccommodating on modern hardware, so this remaster solves that issue with an improved and updated version of the original game. It might not stack up against its contemporaries, but Total War: Rome Remastered is the best way to play a series classic, warts and all.

There are problems with just about every aspect of Victor Vran. The issues range from small to large, from the glitches to frequent crashes and audio cutouts. Still, there’s a lot to enjoy about it.

An unusual game that might not have amazing graphics or sound, but its gameplay is unique and extremely fun.

Many of your frustrations with Spider-Man: The Movie will be directly linked to the game's camera, which sometimes seems to take on a life of its own regardless of which camera mode you choose.

The graphics may be unparalleled in the series, but fans of the series will be greatly disappointed by the lack of innovation and features.

Stunning visuals and sounds. The only question is whether you are willing to sit down and play the game, with its continuously redundant nature.

Instead of letting you create a park and watch your guests enjoy it, the game makes you spend most of your time fretting about things like having to give a two-dollar raise to a guy in an animal suit.

Unfortunately, the game loses some of its shine to some tedious pacing, some visual issues, and, in some cases, the weight of its own complexity.

For PSP puzzle fans on the hunt for another game to complement their current Lumines addiction, Mercury is a solid choice.

Though a few technical concessions have been made to fit the game onto a PSP, the charm of the series still shines brightly.

The real problem with Monster Truck Madness is that it's strictly a single-player experience.

The lack of any sort of time trial, multiplayer, or randomized mode is disappointing, however, especially if you're one of the many who played this game to death nearly a decade ago.

Isn't nearly as compelling on the Game Boy Advance. In relation to other GBA extreme sports games, however, it stacks up quite favorably.

Scarcely meets average in most respects, although the core gameplay can be very fun.

A fun adventure game with a decent collecting aspect and a few fun minigames. But compared with meatier strategy RPGs, like Pokémon or Robopon 2, it is difficult to imagine the game keeping anyone's interest over the long term.

Those who are up to the task will find I-Ninja to be a short but well-crafted third-person action game with a surprising variety of gameplay.

A few adjustments have been made here and there--particularly to the game's online features--but overall, this is still the same batter-friendly baseball game that Acclaim has put out for the last three years.

The game's strong points--especially its combat--overshadow whatever problems Jedi Outcast may have early on.

If multiplayer is not a big factor for you, Rogue Spear's single-player game is certainly worth the price of admission. It's long and challenging, and it features a unique style of gameplay that mixes thoughtful planning with tense action.

The Night of the Rabbit is a beautiful adventure with only a few pacing and puzzle quirks to trip you up along the way.

Roundabout works well as a short chunk of oddbeat humor and arcade-like gameplay. It's unapologetic in its goofiness, and it tells a fun story on top of its relatively unique gameplay. Sure, you can draw comparisons to the games that inspired it, but when was the last time you played an absurdist 1970s limousine game that was this much fun?

Ruiner creates a future teeming with interesting concepts, fascinating people and hidden despair. But it is the combat which stands front and centre. Through the endless bodies that fall by your hand, the grim layers of the story peel away to reveal a few surprises about the meaning of life, death and revenge. It is a revealing journey that's well worth taking but it is apparent from the opening scene to the mysterious finale, the only thing that is pure and absolute in the world of Ruiner is murder.

The Sims 2 loses something in translation from PC to consoles. Namely, its addictive, entertaining gameplay.

Culdcept Saga is easy for beginners to learn, difficult for experts to master, and fun no matter who you are.

This enjoyable anime-inspired fighter nails the look and feel of the source material but places too much importance on mediocre minigames.

Most of what Concrete Genie has to offer is fun and beautiful in a sort of childlike way. The game is not particularly difficult, and overcoming a puzzle or combat scenario isn't always satisfying. But it's ultimately still an endearing experience throughout. There's plenty of enjoyment to be found just from the act of exploring, and little hidden secrets along the way help make it worthwhile; I just wish Concrete Genie had more adventure waiting for me.

Not a Hero's humor may not always hit the mark, but the action makes up for it.

When it hits those strides, it's a novel look at what hell might look like for most of us, a vision that turns the concept of eternal damnation into something more palpable and threatening. It fumbles when it reaches outside its comfort zone, and the focus on small moments means it lacks the grandiose ones that make our lives feel more meaningful than they might otherwise be.

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

It's still somewhat thrilling to inhabit the captain's chair on the bridge of a starship--at the bare minimum, Star Trek: Bridge Crew accomplishes that mission. When the game is at its best, the spirit of cooperation between various asymmetrical elements is encouraging--even special. In every other regard, however, Bridge Crew is forgettable the second you pull out of VR.

The Sims 2 loses something in translation from PC to consoles. Namely, its addictive, entertaining gameplay.

Despite its slow start, Attack on Titan 2 offers exciting gameplay along with a deep and intriguing plot that, melodrama aside, tugs on the heart strings.

Once you get over the whole rewriting-the-end-of-the-movie thing, Scarface: The World Is Yours is a competent but usually uninteresting action game.

Top Spin 3 is a great tennis game, offering a deep challenge for diehard fans and one of the closest experiences to playing a grand slam.

Clever design and a quirky artistic style make this gimmicky puzzle platformer worth playing.

The frequent and diverse boss encounters distract from the otherwise rote, unimaginative, and oft-repeated mission objectives.

I'd still crown Super Meat Boy king of this genre, but thanks to inspired mechanics, variety-packed pacing, and satisfyingly steep challenges, Fenix Rage can proudly stand next to its protein-packed inspiration.

This is a game where you can get lost in the moment very easily.

Combat is a bit lackluster and more interactive minigames are sorely needed, but those who enjoy zanier, simpler strategy RPGs should appreciate the game's casual tone.

There's a good game in Quake 4, but it's buried under several layers of highly disappointing graphical performance issues.

A solid effort all around.

Dead Head Fred has some great ideas that are obscured by a lot of messed up mechanics.

If you're looking for the next great rally simulator, you won't find it here. But to ignore Dirt Showdown because of its arcade styling would be to deny yourself one of the most satisfying of pleasures: that of mindless, over-the-top, and--above all--deliciously addictive destruction.

This shallow and repetitive beat-'em-up is fun for a while, but doesn't last much longer than the movie that it's based on.

This jack-of-all-trades football game is the master of absolutely nothing.

Striking visuals aren't enough to save this shallow brawler from being monotonous and frustrating.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is a great adventure with a ton of heart.

If you're looking for an intense shooter experience, Darkwatch will not disappoint, offering crisp gameplay, an excellent presentation, and a varied campaign.

Simple combat, forgettable boss fights, and a reticent narrative--not to mention an overly vague map--are the only dampeners on what is an impressive sequel, despite never quite feeling like one. The unsuspected changes and additions are bold and mostly pay off, with consistently engaging and rewarding exploration that's propelled forward by an ambitious central mechanic. Axiom Verge 2 is a game that constantly evolves and delights, but just lacks the same bite as some of its contemporaries.

Those exhausted with puzzle-genre conventions will find Exit to be a fun and inventive brainteaser with a wonderful sense of style.

There are occasional stumbles, but Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is another good entry in the platforming series.

It might be squarely aimed at the younger crowd, but Chocobo Tales is highly charming and a great choice for players of all ages.

The slow start can make BloodRayne a tough game to stick with.

An enjoyable experience, with attractive graphics, strategic gameplay, and unique features that provide up-close looks at the dinosaurs in action.

Once you dig into Transformers' gameplay, you'll find a surprisingly intense combat model that's pretty tough but also rewarding once you get a handle on it.

Save the strange decision to remove multiplayer modes, Blitzkrieg: Burning Horizon is the ideal expansion pack. It amplifies the core concepts of the original game and ramps up both the AI and the difficulty without straying from the tactics-first philosophy that allows this series to stand apart from the RTS crowd.

By abandoning almost all pretense of a coherent story, the designers have simply created a series of beautiful, interesting environments filled with some good puzzles.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 features a couple of new game modes, but things are still largely unchanged in Konami's football franchise.

The game is good. Whether you've seen the movie or not, Toy Story 2, as a game, stands on its own. It's not complicated or sexy; it's just a fun, straightforward, nonlinear adventure game with puzzle and platform elements.

For better or worse, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition is not that much different from your standard issue Game of the Year Edition. That is to say, you'll be treated one of the best open world crime adventures in recent years, and the game still looks great, if not dramatically different on its new hardware.

As it is now, VF5 REVO is the best currently available version of an all-time great 3D fighting game. If you're willing to put the effort into it, Virtua Fighter will reward you with some of the most intense fighting out there. Just please, make sure your PC runs it at a proper frame rate before you do anything else.