Technically impressive, but its gameplay flaws really get in the way of the excitement.

If you do have a Transfer Pak, want to get more out of Gold or Silver, and enjoy a lot of battling, then Stadium 2 is a complete package and is definitely worth picking up.

Disgaea 3 does a lousy job of familiarizing you with its complex mechanics, but rewarding tactical depth and goofy humor make the learning curve worth climbing.

Bangai-O's transition to HD results in a frantic, challenging shooter with an agreeable price.

The notion of dictatorship as a role that you play for yucks is still there, if that's a hat you want to wear--though it's harder to indulge your own selfish impulses when you can see how your actions are condemning Lydia the lumberjack to a lifetime of poverty.

This sequel is slow to show off its best features, but once it does, you won't want to stop playing.

Autosport is a decent option, but when you go deep, the experience is soured by the finer details.

Smooth controls and a bunch of awesome tracks make this an exciting kart racer.

Lunar may not have modern aesthetics, but its gameplay and story are among the best of any RPG of any era.

From an exuberant campaign full of spectacle and variety to the way Extinction's unpredictable aliens force you to use those targeting skills in entirely new ways, Ghosts strikes an excellent balance between the familiar and the novel. This is a game that's keenly aware of the series' strengths, but doesn't find itself beholden to them. No matter what standard you apply, Call of Duty: Ghosts is a terrific first-person shooter.

There's a reason this space is so dreamily built--Solar Ash takes place inside a massive black hole, after all--but the game is at its best when it isn't treating those reasons as if they matter all that much. The late game leans a little too heavily into the story, including swapping out the strong boss battles in favor of a binary choice in the game's climactic moments. But, most of the time, that story is where it belongs: in the background. And, thankfully, Solar Ash has some gorgeous backgrounds.

This collection of 10 pinball tables offers more than enough variety to justify the price that you pay for infinite credits.

This slow-starting strategy game is deliciously destructible once you learn the ropes.

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

Telltale's masterful storytelling keeps us hoping for the best even as that optimism is continually shattered by what is proving to be one of the most memorable tragedies ever told in gaming.

Ultimately, if you go into Crisis Core Reunion expecting a one-for-one remake of Crisis Core, quirks and all, you will not be the slightest bit disappointed. It is a greatly improved version of a great game, one that all Final Fantasy VII fans eager for more story would benefit from playing. While you shouldn't expect any new content or story revisions (sincere apologies to all of you who were hoping, I'll admit I was too), you can expect a powerful ode to the kindest man you'll ever meet and the legacy he passed on.

The breakneck action of SNK's playfully over-the-top military shooter series makes for a great fit on the PSP, despite some additional load times.

The lively competitive tapping of Rock Band Blitz puts an exciting spin on the entire, vast library of Rock Band songs.

Though Oreshika isn't the first to try and make an old-school RPG feel new or to make customizable characters feel like a family affair--Fire Emblem: Awakening tried something similar on a smaller scale, for example--it does feel like the first to completely bet the farm on that idea and succeed.

It adds seasonal weather, crop farming, and some new group activities that can actually make the challenging gameplay of Sims 2 a more relaxed pastime. For players looking for a slower-paced experience that doesn't require you to keep track of the ins and outs of an in-game business--or constantly watch a hyperactive pet--this is a good thing.

Helps make the Joint Operations experience an interesting and engaging one, though be prepared to face a noticeable learning curve and some frustrations at first.

The dialogue in Persona is, in a word, insane. Safe money says the translation team stayed up late watching Jerry Springer while they were working, because a good portion of the lingo is of the "Oh, my bad!" and "Girlfriend!" variety.

Despite the great way Out of Time handles emotional payoff, it suffers from problematic dialogue.

There's plenty of joy to be had for grown-ups in Trap Team, and more than a few laughs as well.

Beer and blood spray punctuate the fun punk rock brawler Charlie Murder.

The PC version of Viva Piñata is every bit as enjoyable as the Xbox 360 original, assuming your system is one that it chooses to run on.

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

By scaling back the difficulty a smidge and coloring up the presentation, Mercury Meltdown provides an even better puzzle game experience than its predecessor.