The DS version of this great tower defense game can be a little confusing but is a lot of fun to play both solo and competitively.

When Terraria sucks you in, you might find yourself digging and crafting for far more hours than you originally intended.

Assassin's Creed has undergone many changes in its long and storied history, and Origins feels like the first step in the start of a new journey. It has its fair share of problems, but the vision for its future is one worth pursuing.

Madden NFL 07 for the Wii isn't just a quick-and-dirty port. It's an excellent use of the Wii's motion-sensing capabilities that revitalizes Madden in a number of ways.

LostWinds is brimming with potential, but the result leaves a lot to be desired.

The gameplay holds up tremendously well on the PSP platform, as does the presentation. But the lack of compelling, differing content makes it a tough sell to those who previously invested $50 in this year's game.

Just as Final Fantasy Tactics did nearly 10 years ago, Revenant Wings successfully takes the series into uncharted waters in an unforgettable way.

Fans looking to relive the experience of SoulCalibur's early entries may be irked by this game's new additions. But once the steep learning curve is surmounted, you will find a fresh-yet-familiar fighting system that's fun to explore.

Swords & Soldiers is an engaging, goofy romp that takes out the complexity of other real-time strategy games but leaves in all the fun.

This disappointing sequel saps away the unbridled fun that made the original so enthralling.

The various quality-of-life tweaks that Nintendo has implemented here, welcome as they are, don't fix Skyward Sword's biggest issues, and it remains the most uneven 3D entry in the Zelda series. Even so, the improvements in this Switch remaster make the overall experience more enjoyable, and the characteristic Zelda magic ultimately outshines the game's faults.

Rails Across America's many weaknesses certainly don't totally dampen the fun of racing to see who can outbuild the competition.

Mostly geared toward EverQuest's dedicated, hard-core following.

The game exudes a pride in the aircraft that is palpable even to the uninitiated gamer. Just observing the aircraft in flight, especially at high altitude with contrails streaming, is enough to evoke admiration for what the developers have achieved.

While it's a bit disappointing that Afrika Korps doesn't address any of the weaknesses of Barbarossa to Berlin, it's still a great wargame, and its tank-friendly and diverse environments make it the best installment in the series.

The addition of the Online Dynasty mode will please many, but the lack of significant improvements to other key modes of NCAA Football 09 will disappoint many others.

Both on its own and as a tribute to Mario's legacy, Mario vs. Donkey Kong does a great job.

The best, most fully developed part of Deception is its fighting system. Like any great fighting game, this one carefully strikes the balance of delivering fast-paced, visceral thrills and rewarding lots of practice and complex tactics.

An engaging experience but fails to match the gameplay finesse of "GoldenEye."

In many ways, though, Wasteland 2 represents everything about classic computer role-playing games that the modern iterations of Fallout aren't.

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

I spent all of my time playing Anno 1800 in a mild yet pervasive state of anxiety. As a city-building sim that emphasizes economic management, it is as robust and powerful as the steel factories it allows you to pollute the skies with. But for all the natural beauty of its island paradise and the architectural splendor of its churches, theatres, and piers, it's just a little too cold in its reliance on numbers and a little too impenetrable in its reluctance to show you its workings. I'm glad I visited, but I don't think I'd want to live there.

Kingdoms of Amalur's combat and character advancement are fantastic enough to overshadow how bland everything else is.

Minit’s lives might only last 60 seconds, but its extremely well-thought-out world design and engrossing loop of progress make it a curse-filled adventure that is worth dying the world over for.

Madden NFL 13 trots out the same basic experience one more time, creating an enjoyable game without any major improvements.

Poker Smash is an exciting and fast-paced puzzle game that puts an interesting twist on a fairly standard gameplay formula.

Stylish art and a gradual difficulty curve make Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony a treat for shoot-'em-up fans of all skill levels.

Call of Duty: Black Ops bears the series' standard superbly, delivering an engrossing campaign and exciting competitive multiplayer.