Control and design issues break up the band.

Even if you have to endure a few too many boring werehog fights, it's still worth playing through this adventure just to see Sonic sprint again.

Enjoy a fun fantasy adventure and addictive farm management without having to wake up at dawn.

Castlevania's switch from 2D side-scrolling to 3D fighting is an endless stream of missteps that will frustrate even series devotees.

Tomb Raider Underworld will satisfy fans of Lara's previous adventures, but it does little to address previous games' problems.

Tomb Raider Underworld will satisfy fans of Lara's previous adventures, but it does little to address previous games' problems.

Tomb Raider Underworld can be an enjoyable adventure, but it’s marred by bugs, camera issues, and ill-conceived Wii extras.

Tomb Raider: Underworld is ultimately a competent but underwhelming platform game that has little to offer fans of the genre.

Bolt is an action platformer that benefits from its super ambitions, even if it doesn't completely live up to them.

Bolt is an action platformer that benefits from its super ambitions, even if it doesn't completely live up to them.

Luminous Arc 2 is formulaic but charming, a solid strategy RPG that hooks you in with warriors of might and magic.

The crazy sense of humor remains intact, but hackneyed and rudimentary motion controls have lost almost all of their luster.

This misguided remake proves that you can never go home again.

Lips' wireless mics and excellent song selection make for an evening's worth of entertainment, but it has little to offer solo players.

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.

Football Manager 2009 may not be a beautiful game, but it's still compelling in the extreme.

Even though you can climb higher than ever before in Dynasty Warriors 6, the series as a whole seems stuck on the same wrung.

Storm of Zehir tries to be the square peg in Neverwinter Nights 2's round hole, with predictably lackluster results.

Between the tense campaign and the frenetic Versus mode, Left 4 Dead offers two distinct flavors of multiplayer action that are equally delicious when enjoyed with friends. The single-player experience (and the marginally better but somewhat sluggish split-screen mode) isn't as tasty, simply because the friendly AI can't compare to a human teammate.

Left 4 Dead makes both sides of the zombie apocalypse a thrill to experience, as long as you're not alone.

The bowels of Middle-earth have no right to be this interesting to investigate, yet Moria's dim passages are a dungeon crawler's delight, surpassing even Shadows of Angmar's charming landscapes for sheer exploratory value.

Help save the human race from evil robots in this funny and satisfying strategy game for the DS.

Need for Speed returns to its roots with hokey cutscenes, wild cop chases, and solid racing action.

Need for Speed returns to its roots with hokey cutscenes, wild cop chases, and solid racing action.

Need for Speed returns to its roots with hokey cutscenes, wild cop chases, and solid racing action.

Need for Speed Uninspired would be a better name for this mediocre racer.

Thanks to a new game engine coupled with improvements to atmosphere and online play, NCAA Basketball 09 is a good game.

Thanks to a new game engine coupled with improvements to atmosphere and online play, NCAA Basketball 09 is a good game.

You're in the Movies is a box-office bust, despite featuring your own recognizable stars.

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

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

Frustrating issues make Shaun White Snowboarding seem less like a downhill rush and more like an uphill grind.

Frustrating issues make Shaun White Snowboarding seem less like a downhill rush and more like an uphill grind.

Intuitive and fun motion controls make Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip a healthy alternative to the real sport.

City Folk offers more of the same Animal Crossing gameplay that you know and love, with the emphasis on "same."

Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades improves minimally upon its predecessor, but not in the areas that matter most.

It hits a few rough patches on the slopes, but sweet controls help make this simple snowboarding game enjoyable.

The second World of Warcraft expansion doesn't do anything for new players, but there's plenty of great content for anyone who's reached at least level 55.

Although Sacred 2: Fallen Angel doesn't break any new ground, it does impressive work freshening up an old formula.

Mirror's Edge is many things: invigorating, infuriating, fulfilling, and confusing. It isn't for everybody, and it stumbles often for a game that holds velocity in such high esteem. But even with all its foibles and frustrations, it makes some impressive leaps; it just doesn't nail the landing.

Mirror's Edge is many things: invigorating, infuriating, fulfilling, and confusing. It isn't for everybody, and it stumbles often for a game that holds velocity in such high esteem. But even with all its foibles and frustrations, it makes some impressive leaps; it just doesn't nail the landing.

The Xbox 360 version of this humorous strategy game can be fun, but it falls short in a few key areas.

Dawn of the New World is a sequel that fails to establish itself as anything more than fan fare.

An excellent vehicle creator and a variety of fun missions make Banjo's return to gaming a blast.

There is no suspension of disbelief due to the simplistic fighting mechanics and imprecise controls, and your dreams of feeling like an all-powerful Jedi remain unrealized. LucasArts gave it a great try, with faithful graphics, sound, and cinematic flair, but for legions of rabid Star Wars fans, it's do or do not. There is no try.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 is an improvement on last year's game, but this is a series that desperately needs a complete overhaul.

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

World at War brings proven Call of Duty mechanics back to WWII with great success.

World at War brings proven Call of Duty mechanics back to WWII with great success.

World at War brings proven Call of Duty mechanics back to WWII with great success.

All told, Call of Duty: World at War is a great first-person shooter and undoubtedly among the best that the Wii has to offer.

Even fond memories of the 1989 original can't disguise the fact that Populous isn't relevant or fun almost 20 years later.

Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia improves upon its predecessor just enough to make it a fun, solid addition to the spin-off series.

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

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

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

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

The fighting modes deliver some excitement, but the adventure loses its way with too many boring fetch quests and repetitive environmental puzzles.

Gears of War 2's new environments, weapons, and multiplayer features round out an all-around superior action package.

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.

Pesky controls and irritating slowdown curtail the fun you'll have in this zombie shooter.

Poor controls plague Mr. Esc's first action puzzler romp on the Nintendo DS.

A new coat of paint can't save this busted and broken remake.

At its core, EndWar is a bit too simple, but it does offer a unique voice command system and terrific production values.

At its core, EndWar is a bit too simple, but it does offer a unique voice command system and terrific production values.

This frustratingly bad first-person shooter is not the stuff legends are made of.

Monster Lab has a ton of monster-making potential, but poor controls ruin this experiment.

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

A boldly refreshing strategy RPG that is both beautiful to look at and fun to play.

Quantum of Solace will leave you shaken and stirred, but not entirely satisfied.

The stirring scale of the single-player levels is impressive and the pervasive details make them truly awesome. Despite the squandered story, blasting your way through the campaign is electrifying, thanks largely to the deadly weapons in your arsenal. The cooperative multiplayer is a resounding success, and the competitive modes are terrific in their own right. Anyone looking for a superb shooter experience need look no further than Resistance 2.

Namco Museum is an impressive collection of classics that spans the entire history of arcade gaming.

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

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

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

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

The AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack is a short but sweet experience that leaves you feeling like you didn't get a Whole Lotta Rosie.

The AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack is a short but sweet experience that leaves you feeling like you didn't get a Whole Lotta Rosie.

You may want to shuffle away from this dungeon crawler.

The controls in this horror-themed minigame collection are possessed by an evil spirit whose only goal is to drive you mad.

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.

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

Red Alert 3 is a raucously fun strategy game that overcomes its issues with both style and substance.

In fact, Fallout 3 is leaner and meaner than Bethesda's previous efforts, less expansive but more intense, while still offering immense replay value and quite a few thrills along the way.

In fact, Fallout 3 is leaner and meaner than Bethesda's previous efforts, less expansive but more intense, while still offering immense replay value and quite a few thrills along the way.

In fact, Fallout 3 is leaner and meaner than Bethesda's previous efforts, less expansive but more intense, while still offering immense replay value and quite a few thrills along the way.

More content and clever courses make Pacific Rift everything you'd want in a Motorstorm sequel.

New controls, improved online play, and eight-player support make FIFA 09 All-Play a fine upgrade to last year’s Wii debut.

This is last year's unremarkable MySims game with a few changes and a new name.

With its cheerful style and accessible gameplay, MySims Kingdom steps out of The Sims' shadow to stand on its own as a fun adventure.

Ninjatown is an intuitive strategy experience that anyone can enjoy.

MotoGP 08 is meat-and-potatoes racing with enough challenge to keep two-wheeled gearheads busy for a long time.

MotoGP 08 is meat-and-potatoes racing with enough challenge to keep two-wheeled gearheads busy for a long time.

MotoGP 08 is meat-and-potatoes racing with enough challenge to keep two-wheeled gearheads busy for weeks.

Scene It? Box Office Smash leaves the back lot and goes on location with new modes, improved special effects, and great online play.

Little Big Planet is a novel, imaginative, and highly customisable platform game.

Neverland Card Battles gets off to a poor start and goes downhill from there.

Though Tornado's core gameplay is based on a solid foundation, its few major drawbacks are too severe to ignore.