There's some magic to this fantasy puzzle adventure, but a few frustrations break the spell.

Castle Crashers is a classic side-scrolling beat-'em-up infused with cartoon visuals and absurd humor, and the result is a highly amusing romp.

Spore's first full expansion is overflowing with wit and charm, and it offers resourceful players a chance to get creative.

Tales of Vesperia is the best game yet in the series, and a beautiful and entertaining RPG in its own right.

The addictive gameplay and stylish design of N+ fit almost perfectly into the tight confines of today's handhelds.

The addictive gameplay and stylish design of N+ fit almost perfectly into the tight confines of today's handhelds.

Digimon World Championship attempts to shake things up with some interesting ideas, but these changes leave the game repetitive and unexciting.

Friendlier controls and a host of other improvements make Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 great.

Realistic golf-swing controls and a host of exclusive party games make Tiger Woods 09 on the Wii a great golfing experience.

Pure, unadulterated fan service for the Nippon Ichi faithful and strategy RPG enthusiasts, though outsiders may find it incomprehensible.

Exciting for Ferrari fans, but take away the licence and you're left with a competent racer with only average looks, poor AI opponents, and not enough variety.

Island of Happiness offers plenty of satisfying farming gameplay, but the controls will leave you decidedly unhappy.

It's not another Mario sports gem, but Mario Super Sluggers still has a rough, unpolished appeal.

Though it lacks the unique modes that are the series' trademark, MLB Power Pros 2008 is currently the best baseball game on the DS.

Murder in the Abbey may not be entirely original, but it's an adventure with a lot of personality.

Quest for Booty ratchets up the fun, but its strict adherence to the series' formula won't bring in new fans.

Dreary and dated.

If you enjoyed the original Galaga, or are a classic shooter fan, then you'll love this true sequel to one of the greatest arcade shooters of yesteryear.

A perfect example of awesome but unrealized potential.

Iffy controls and blotchy animations mean Smash Court Tennis 3 should restring its racket and try again next year.

Shattered Suns wastes its promise with terrible presentation values and poor implementation of its 3D combat system.

The updated graphics and new modes in Bionic Commando Rearmed are enough to make this classic still fun today, despite some control issues.

The updated graphics and new modes in Bionic Commando Rearmed aren't quite enough to distract from the cumbersome controls.

If you're lukewarm about Fable II or gambling in general, then Pub Games doesn't do anything well enough to warrant your attention.

Saving the human race shouldn't be so tedious.

Bangai-O Spirits is an intense, challenging shooter with terrific tools for creating and sharing your own levels.

For every addition, like the backtrack feature, Collinsworth, or improved visuals, there's a problem that rears its ugly head, like the unchanged Superstar mode, poor pass coverage in the middle of the field, or underwhelming online leagues. Newcomers will still face a steep learning curve, but if you're a football fan or series veteran, you can't go wrong with Madden 09.

For every addition, like the backtrack feature, Collinsworth, or improved visuals, there's a problem that rears its ugly head, like the unchanged Superstar mode, poor pass coverage in the middle of the field, or underwhelming online leagues. Newcomers will still face a steep learning curve, but if you're a football fan or series veteran, you can't go wrong with Madden 09.