With Guitar Hero 5 Neversoft has finally found its "confidence." An assured nature to the game's new visual direction contrasts with the see-what-sticks "extreme" visual stylings of its predecessors, and with several new game modes Guitar Hero finally bests its direct competitor in ease of use and friendliness, in many respects.

As long as it runs well, BtK's four new battlefields hold the potential for hundreds of hours of explosion-packed entertainment. It'd be easy to pass these off as just mere rehashes of old content, but there are enough tweaks and changes to breathe plenty of new life into the experience.

A great, if overly hard revamp, of the classic SNES racer.

This expansion is everything "Play The World" should've been and will breathe a whole new life into your Civ experience.

The gameplay feels as though it has mapped exceptionally well to the PS3's controller, unlike many other ports for the console. However, Rainbow Six has traditionally been a multiplayer-focused franchise, and it's here that the game disappoints.

Despite the poor online modes, the rest of the game is nothing short of stellar. With all of the new tweaks and gameplay options, NHL 08 is worth the time of any hockey fan. Not only has EA managed to prove that this is indeed the coolest game on Earth, it's also one of the best sports titles of the year.

It's challenging, but never to the point of frustration; Sylvia makes for a great new character; and the implementation of the VFX Powers adds an extra dimension to what could have been nothing more than a simple punch-fest.

Its original problems are still there, but they're more than made up for by the amount of fun to be had in the main quest line. In its current state, the expansion is already fun enough to justify the $30 purchase, and, like the original, we're sure it's only going to get better as time goes by.

Although it's true that the QB Vision system changes the game dramatically, it's not always for the better, especially when you're still trying to learn how to use it properly. If you can get over the steep learning curve (and trust me, it's a doozy), you'll probably learn to love it, as it makes the game feel much more realistic.

A must-have for space combat sim fans - as long as they can overlook the lack of a single-player game.

That attitude pervades Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin: the idea that a definitely well-done safe idea is better than a possibly flawed risky idea, no matter what stagnation may follow.

While Aggressive Inline doesn't boast the same name-brand glitz as THPS or Dave Mirra, it matches or exceeds those better-known games in terms of graphics, environments, tricks, and controls.

Substantial changes are what the series needs to really glow again, and they just aren't here. Bizarre Creations "phoning it in" is still better than a lot of developers' best, but if Bizarre Creations has something truly innovative up its sleeve, it seems it's saving it for its next title for its new publisher, Activision.

If you've never play MC3 before, or if you're the best MC3 player in the world, you owe it to yourself to snag Remix, pimp out some rides, earn some phat cash and experience one of the best racers for the PlayStation 2. It's really that simple.

Despite the poor online modes, the rest of the game is nothing short of stellar. With all of the new tweaks and gameplay options, NHL 08 is worth the time of any hockey fan. Not only has EA managed to prove that this is indeed the coolest game on Earth, it's also one of the best sports titles of the year.

All of these settings, without exception, are stunning. Whether it's the blowing curtains that festoon the royal palace, the mysterious glowing blue torches in a crypt, or the lovely geometric patterns, arched doors, and latticework screens used as architectural highlights, the game's environments are beautiful.

While the subject matter is no doubt controversial and far from being politically correct, it does make for an excellent game.

It's remarkable that EA has managed to catch up to the incredible effort from Sega in a single generation, and if it weren't for an overly trying physics engine on the ice, the two would be in a dead heat.

Thanks to revolutionary ten-man motion captures, the look of 2004 will impress you. This is the first hoops game I've played where everyone on the court acts the way they're supposed to.

Online play is a very enticing part of what Madden brings to the table this year.

Neversoft has done an admirable job of recreating Guitar Hero's gameplay, and the new guitars, fantastic setlist and challenging note charts push the series forward, even if some players may not be quite ready to rock that hard. Features like the boss battles, online play and co-op could have made Guitar Hero III a legend itself but end up feeling unpolished.

Unlocking all the characters requires beating the single-player arcade mode no less than 16 times, a mind-numbing chore that borders on Super Smash Bros. levels of grind-ness.

What's New, Beelzebub? is Telltale's development team at the top of its game and is a perfect way to end Season Two.

This is the action/platformer we've pined for on PSP. With amazing graphics, an entertaining story and uber-accurate control, it's virtually flawless and its appeal knows no bounds.

Some new additions to the pitcher-batter match-up deepen the gameplay and the ability to save the action mid-game is a huge plus.

UC2 is trying to create a fun, arcade sensibility and atmosphere that takes the franchise and the genre in a sporty, flamboyant, enjoyable new direction. In this it succeeds admirably.

It's easy to get into, the combat rocks, and it's a blast to play with friends.

The enhanced visuals and online functionality alone make them more enjoyable than any of the previous games, and you don't want to be the last trainer on the block to get with the times.

There's something compelling about the room-to-room nature of the single-player missions that rarely gets old, even after you've failed a particular mission a dozen times.

It's harder than most, but the feeling of elation when you finally work those punk-ass CPU roadsters into submission is legendary. Rockstar's latest above-the-law offering is excellent.

It's as fun and exhilarating as a classic three-chord punk tune at a folk rock festival.

While it may lack innovation, it makes up for it with narrative effort. Sam Fisher needed a change, and this will suffice. However, it's tough to look at this game and say, "Being on next-gen has allowed this franchise to take itself to the next level." That's just not true.

As is usually the case with Ubisoft's games on Xbox Live, the netcode is solid, so you shouldn't see much lag.

The overall "feel" of the multiplayer game is terrific and the basic gameplay paradigm works to create a game that's deep, rich and thoroughly satisfying. Combined with a fun and very different-playing single-player component, this is a game that's well worth a look by any strategy fan looking for something fun that breaks the RTS genre's straitjacket.

The second best fighting game ever made, losing only to Namco's own "Soul Calibur," but still should be bought.

While the game isn't a construction of godly perfection, it is pure, raw fun that may eclipse the first two, depending on whether you'll miss the adventure elements or the less ostentatious presentation of the first game. I, for one, did not.

Despite its lackluster storytelling, Red Faction: Guerrilla is a whole lot of fun to play, thanks to its meaty campaign and well-rounded multiplayer offerings.

There's a name for what this game is; it's just not typical to console games. That's "expansion pack." And expansion packs don't cost full price. Sure, FFX-2 gives you another lengthy quest to play through, but it’s just not up to par with the best games in the Final Fantasy series.

C&C3 has little in the way of innovation, but that won't stop hardcore RTS fans, and C&C fans in particular, from enjoying the heck out of it. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

While this latest effort has its share of missteps, it's still the best Madden in recent memory. Gameplay is king, and Madden NFL 10 is plain and simple a hell of a lot of fun to play. This is a must-have for football fans.

It's no gimmicks, no frills, and ten times more enjoyable than yet another warmed-over SNES port.

I found myself eager for Hotline Miami to end before it did (after about eight hours) and had little desire to return to improve my scores.

As a band game, the unpolished, unintuitive feel of the interface may likely send many players back to "Rock Band" as their party game of choice – now that Guitar Hero World Tour has delivered its opening number, we'll have to see if it can deliver a superior encore.

It has everything you could possibly ask for in a roleplaying game and then some.

A game which does everything right. Gameplay, graphics, realism, mood, and extendibility through the included fully-featured mission editor.

This game is a riot, start to finish, and multiplayer is especially entertaining. The game's few flaws can ideally be corrected with the aforementioned patch.

A shining example for how to create a fun and challenging game based on an extremely boring and dull concept. Clearly one to earmark as a future hall of famer.

It doesn't expand the genre and it's got technical issues, but the Alien and Predator levels are a blast.

It's remarkable that EA has managed to catch up to the incredible effort from Sega in a single generation, and if it weren't for an overly trying physics engine on the ice, the two would be in a dead heat.

Minor A.I quibbles aside, MotoGP 3 works as one of the fastest, most sharply designed, and deepest racing games on the Xbox.

Although the game still leaves a bit to be desired (a coherent storyline, for example), the gorgeous graphics and intense action definitely make it worth picking up if you're a fan of fighting games.

For the most part, NASCAR SimRacing boasts a fine presentation, although the graphics aren't that cutting-edge, and the cars can look a bit too simple. There's also a silly flaw that hurts the game's authenticity: censorship of beer logos.

As the name would imply, Pure wins because it sticks with only the most important facets of ATV racing: crazy handling and absurd, gravity-defying stunts. Its stellar visuals (exemplified by the glittering glacier track set in New Zealand) are simply icing on a cake of solid gameplay that rarely falters in providing the basic racing game essentials.

In the end, Mines of Moria proves that while innovation is nice, it plays second fiddle to vision.

Crysis 2's shiny graphics are nice and all, but the Nanosuit is the true star of the show. Offering a true sense of power rarely seen in modern shooters, it helps to make this one of the most exciting games of the year.

Soulcalibur has never been broken, and while there is certainly room for some novel approaches in the fighting genre, I would argue that no game has of yet come close in terms of subtlety and inventiveness.

While I would have liked more cohesion in the plot and more depth in the combat, the overall package is filled with enough fun and surprises to keep you playing through the end.

Soulcalibur has never been broken, and while there is certainly room for some novel approaches in the fighting genre, I would argue that no game has of yet come close in terms of subtlety and inventiveness.

If the difficulty level of the latter stages was kinder and the environmental detail greater, it would have been a near-perfect racing game. As it is, it's still a very good one.

The experience it provides is completely engrossing, and all of its subtle elements were crafted with a careful hand. The resulting game feels like it's teeming with life, and genuinely responding to your interactions.

But what really sinks you into the world of GTR is the superlative and pervasive sound. There's a powerful sense that you're on a track with a bunch of overpowered, extremely noisy engines all around you.

It's a nifty twist on the traditional RPG in both its battle engine and the offbeat nuances of its plot. The pacing could have been a touch faster, but it's a small gripe in the grand scheme of things.

If you can master Logan's Shadow's complexities, you're in for the most rewarding stealth combat experience available on the PSP. But it's a game that demands a lot from its players, and the PSP is just not a good fit for a game with such an elaborate control scheme.

It's remarkable that EA has managed to catch up to the incredible effort from Sega in a single generation, and if it weren't for an overly trying physics engine on the ice, the two would be in a dead heat.

To play America's Army is like slipping into a fascinating experiment. As players come and go, you're witness to riveting displays of heroism and cowardice, brilliant tactical bluffs, and awesomely awful blunders.

A deep Dynasty Mode and some cool new gameplay additions ensure that you'll be playing the game for months to come, and while we can't say yet if the game will be able to gain ground on its biggest rival, we can say this: NBA Live 2005 is the best EA Sports basketball game ever.

A game definitely worth buying. Good story, good level design, and great graphics all make for one hell of a ride.

Easily one of best GBA titles to ever come out for the handheld system. Its rich story, colorful characters, and excellent gameplay all add up to make this a truly satisfying experience.

While this port isn't the significant enhancement that we'd all hoped for (to put it kindly), Prepare to Die Edition is still clearly the definitive version of Dark Souls. It plays smoother, multiplayer is improved, mods have enhanced the resolution and promise further improvements, and there's content not currently available on the consoles.

The Creative Assembly team knows what Total War fans want, and the huge amount of new content found in Kingdoms is it.

Strikingly similar to CoD4 in many ways, while offering enough variety to recommend it to anyone who might be growing tired of last year's game. Although the campaign storyline isn't nearly as engaging as the one seen in CoD4, there should be enough memorable set pieces and intense sequences to keep you riveted throughout.

There are no PGA courses or players, but what it does have to offer is a gameplay style so simple it truly is good for everyone.

Deep Red took their time and reinvented both the "Sim City" model, the Monopoly board game, and created something that's bold, new, and still reminiscent of both sources.

It's a triumph for THQ and vindication for Yukes. This is best of the series, and one of the best wrestling games to hit a console.

The only real problem with VJ2 -- it's too darn similar to the previous one.

This is what your hands should be doing in their spare time.

It's painful to see that the ultra-cool face-mapping and online eight-player multiplayer game is absent from the final Xbox package. However, THUG for the Xbox remains one of the best games you'll play this year.

Is the combat up to par with, say, Devil May Cry 3? Not quite. And no, the series will probably never top Devil May Cry 4's Dante vs Nero opening in terms of sheer testosterone-fueled zaniness. But Ninja Theory's managed to meld its own wildly inventive sensibilities with an obvious reverence for Devil May Cry's legacy, and the result is a very special experience.

Once you get past its unsightly graphics and need for a gamepad, you'll find that Indigo Prophecy is one of the more refreshing and unique titles released in years.

A return to grace for our troubled royal acrobat.

Chariot of the Dogs may be missing the satirical edge of earlier Sam & Max episodes, but the funny certainly won't disappoint long-time fans of the Freelance Police.

MvC3 tends to emphasize flash over substance... and that's totally cool, for some folks, as MvC3 is going to divide the fighting game audience, including series faithful. Some will like that it's more accessible (if a bit stripped down), while others will decry the dumbing-down of their favorite series and its lack of arcade sauce.

Like the best of Japanese-developed games, the artistry is spot on. It's artful and visually varied, and the soundtrack is appealing if slightly bombastic. Although the online options lag behind the quality of the rest of the game, this is a four-star title through and through.

The combat is electric and there's so much to explore and discover that it'll take quite a while before most players discover that the universe isn't as deep as it could have been.

With Guitar Hero 5 Neversoft has finally found its "confidence." An assured nature to the game's new visual direction contrasts with the see-what-sticks "extreme" visual stylings of its predecessors, and with several new game modes Guitar Hero finally bests its direct competitor in ease of use and friendliness, in many respects.

A great version of an RPG milestone. The story seems a bit simplistic by today's standards, but it's also uncommonly charming. The quicksave feature makes it an excellent candidate for fun on the go.

One of the game's strongest features is its highly bizarre and amusing story line, with a localization that Nintendo of America can be proud of.

If you can bear some of the repetition in between missions, the missions themselves are a blast. The environment is among the most compelling ever put on a screen this year. And multiplayer is strong. Far Cry 2 may not live up to its full potential, but there's a lot here to enjoy regardless.

Incredibly original and thoroughly entertaining.

Speaking of puzzles, most in the episode are easy and you should have no problem finishing it in less than three hours. Another annoying case of "adventure game logic" rears its ugly head towards the end of the game, though: Lee appears to have the magical ability to fit a full-sized blowtorch and gas canister inside his back pocket and climb up a ladder unaided. In the real world, getting this contraption up the ladder would've been a puzzle in itself. For a franchise that depends on realism to sell the misery and horror of something so implausible as reanimated corpses, that disregard for authenticity is a step in the wrong direction.

Its greatness holds up almost ten years later. It's a treat having an enhanced (both gameplay-wise and visually) version of the game that you can toss in your pocket and play on the go. This is easily the best launch title in the DS lineup.

One of the most uniquely imaginative horror games ever created... Despite the fact that there are some frustrating elements (namely the save system and AI), Dead Rising is a straight-up blast from start to finish.

As good as the storyline and basic gameplay are, there are more than a few issues that keep this game from reaching the bar set by the first KotOR. The first: bugs. There a lot of them; most are just annoying, but a few are deadly.

The controls are varied in style; thankfully there's something for everyone in play, although sometimes the touch screen jumps feel strange in stylus mode.

As a gameplay dynamic, the dark prince is great, and works on multiple levels.

Sonic Team has done so many things right here that it's hard to wrap my head around everything simultaneously.

Undoubtedly, the worst thing you can say about Path of Radiance is that it's a bit drab in regards to aesthetics.

Another great feature is the skill chain system -- like in Square's "Chrono Trigger," weapon skills can be combined for extra damage, and then followed up with compatible spells for even more damage.