This hybrid of sim and arcade racing may take some getting used to -- its learning curve is steeper than your average Burnout or Need for Speed -- but the time investment is worth it.

Purists may scoff at some of the on-road physics and the ability to play with time, but there aren't too many games that deliver as intense of a racing experience.

Even if you make only one trip through LEGO Indiana Jones, it'll be a great ride.

Even if you make only one trip through LEGO Indiana Jones, it'll be a great ride.

As enjoyable as the game is, it's even more fun with a second player (although there's no online play, sadly).

Even if you make only one trip through LEGO Indiana Jones, it'll be a great ride.

Even if you make only one trip through LEGO Indiana Jones, it'll be a great ride.

The game takes ample advantage of the DS' touch screen for some of the characters' unique skills, but fortunately it doesn't force you to use them.

Those who have mastered the LEGO Star Wars titles will discover that this game has a much greater emphasis on puzzle-solving than its spiritual predecessors had.

The more you play, the more techniques become available to help deal with the more challenging courses. The wide variety of unlockables is also a great incentive to keep playing.

After nine versions, there is no question that OOTP is firmly atop the baseball general manager simulation heap. For new players this is stellar material despite its issues, but longtime fans and especially those who own last year's game need to weigh their options a bit more closely. OOTP 9 is worth the $40 upgrade, but just barely.

If you missed it the first time around, or were waiting for the inevitable PC version, you won't be disappointed here.

There's a good game here, but it's buried underneath layers of mediocre to substandard cosmetics and an unforgiving learning curve.

Though it could be viewed at first glance as a warmed-over port of a middling PSP title, DJ finds new life on the Wii through its tight control scheme and clever writing

The good news is even those who've never seen the comic strip can enjoy the fun combat system and great artwork. And if the storyline is only moderately interesting to those not familiar with the series' in-jokes, it's serviceable enough to hold the game together for its roughly six-hour play time.

The good news is even those who've never seen the comic strip can enjoy the fun combat system and great artwork. And if the storyline is only moderately interesting to those not familiar with the series' in-jokes, it's serviceable enough to hold the game together for its roughly six-hour play time.

Age of Conan going forward should become a delightfully savage second home for plenty of howling on-line barbarians.

It's clear from the bare-bones multiplayer, glitchy graphics and incredibly short storyline that Haze is a game interrupted.

Wii Fit won't replace your favorite videogames, but it may become an activity you'll want to do for a few minutes in the morning before school or work.

Battle of the Nations is a phenomenal way to stoke the nationalistic fire of the competition in gamers around the world, but it's shutting down the day after the tournament.

Battle of the Nations is a phenomenal way to stoke the nationalistic fire of the competition in gamers around the world, but it's shutting down the day after the tournament.

It's also a perfect game for the entire family, being deep enough for adults to appreciate and visceral enough for kids to get a huge kick out of.

You might get a few hours of enjoyment out of it, but at best, this Voyage is best saved for a short weekend; it's not one you'll want to take too many times.

Do yourself a favor and pick up New York Times Crosswords for the DS instead.

The technology trees alone make it impossible for someone who's sampled Twilight of the Arnor to ever go back to just playing Dark Avatar. Add to that impressive customization tools, new gameplay dynamics, better AI, graphic upgrades, new ship-builder components and completely re-done flavor text and hundreds and hundreds of smaller tweaks, fixes and changes and what you have is an absolute triumph and a new standard for turn-based-strategy games.

Although its got plenty of excellent features, it's ultimately the storytelling that makes it an instant classic, a game unlike any we've played before. As is the case with many great books and movies, you'll want to know what happens to the characters after the game ends, and one can't help hoping that all of their American Dreams comes true.

The very nature of the American Dream is the central theme in Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto IV, a gaming masterpiece that is a picture-perfect snapshot of the underworld of today's big cities. This is not only the finest title of the generation thus far, it is one of the best games of all-time.

The offline and online content is extremely entertaining and the pursuit of casual and hardcore karting has never been this much fun.

The beautiful world, smart controls and surprising depth kept us coming back for more.

A fantastic version of an astonishing game. Although you miss out on the sumptuous bonuses of the original release, you will get substantially more content at a great price.

While Ballers hits from long-range with pretty graphics and plenty of Cribz-esque intros and unique elements, it clangs off the rim a bit with its Chosen One storyline execution.

While Ballers hits from long-range with pretty graphics and plenty of Cribz-esque intros and unique elements, it clangs off the rim a bit with its Chosen One storyline execution.

The novelty of the different musical styles just doesn't make up for the highly repetitive gameplay.

If you've wanted to play Rogue-like games in the past, but found them to be a bit too unforgiving, this is an exceedingly good alternative to look into.

If you've wanted to play Rogue-like games in the past, but found them to be a bit too unforgiving, this is an exceedingly good alternative to look into.

Unfortunately getting to a multiplayer game is more trouble than it's worth.

Prologue will definitely scratch the itch for GT fans waiting to get their hands on next-gen racing, but the disc suffers from an overly short single-player game and the same problems -- the ability to drive recklessly and the lack of damage -- that have dogged the series for a while. Online the game is a real treat, though.

Sporting slightly more impressive graphics than either the 360 or PS3 versions (mostly due to the superior definition of higher-end LCD displays combined with flashy video cards), the PC version of Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 could be the best version of the game.

This is a marvelous game in terms of artistry, sound, and yes, even gameplay, despite being hamstrung by the poorly implemented Celestial Brush controls. Despite the headaches you'll undoubtedly experience, it's still worth playing Okami on your Nintendo Wii.

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

There's not enough new content to justify re-buying Creed if you own it on a console, but the PC-exclusive content is a nice touch -- as are DX9 and DX10 support, and an overall solid technical quality to the port.

Dark Sector is a good game that has some great hooks, such as the wonderful glaive and a powerful shotgun. It's unfortunate that other elements, such as unpolished combat and some very generic NPCs, undermine its ambition (though they don't render the game unplayable).

Dark Sector is a good game that has some great hooks, such as the wonderful glaive and a powerful shotgun. It's unfortunate that other elements, such as unpolished combat and some very generic NPCs, undermine its ambition (though they don't render the game unplayable).

But the 360 version's clunky control scheme and savage technical problems bring the game down, and none of the key issues from the PC release have been changed. The problems here don't outweigh the fun, but the margin is very thin.

More tedious than scary and more frustrating than shocking.

Viking: Battle for Asgard is beautiful as far as offering a hurricane of blood and gore can be beautiful, but it's easy to get bogged down in the repetitive combat.

Viking: Battle for Asgard is beautiful as far as offering a hurricane of blood and gore can be beautiful, but it's easy to get bogged down in the repetitive combat.

Landroll is a great planet to explore. Opoona's design aesthetic is fantastic, and the world gives off a sort of Phantasy Star Online vibe.

As good as Dragon Sword is, the game is over way too soon. Seven or eight hours may seem like a decent length for a portable game, but once you're finished, there's very little incentive to return.

Orochi's one of the most polished of the recent Warriors games.

It succeeds on its own merits while also serving as a powerful tribute to one of modern gaming's most beloved adventures.

Kane's Wrath's worst sin is simply a failure of imagination. By playing it safe, the Kane's Wrath team has crafted a decently enjoyable but ultimately forgettable experience.

It's pretty irritating to play a sequel and face so many of the issues of the original, but Bloodshot's ability to take you into the terrifying world Monolith has crafted is astonishing.

The U.S. version, on the other hand, features too many one-hit wonders that could have been easily eliminated without anybody mourning them: how many times do you want to sing Chumbawumba's "Tubthumping" or Spin Doctors' "Two Princes"? The novelty is gone after the first time.

For those of us who enjoy a little less seriousness in our golf game's appearance, but don't want some dumbed-down baby's toy, Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds is a uniquely accomplished solution.

Sega Superstars Tennis isn't a bad game, it's just that it offers little to differentiate it from Virtua Tennis 3 outside of the inclusion of classic Sega characters.

Suffice it to say that if you enjoyed the first Rainbow Six: Vegas, then you will undoubtedly find considerable value in Vegas 2.

Suffice it to say that if you enjoyed the first Rainbow Six: Vegas, then you will undoubtedly find considerable value in Vegas 2.

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.

It's pretty irritating to play a sequel and face so many of the issues of the original, but Bloodshot's ability to take you into the terrifying world Monolith has crafted is astonishing.

Probably the best single-player dungeon crawler we'll see on the DS for some time. Game balance is great, the game looks beautiful, and there's even some really fun writing hidden beneath the youth/casual storyline.

After years of living up to the name of evolving the beautiful game, Konami's latest Pro Evolution Soccer effort is an embarrassment for a series that has served as the dominant title in the genre.

After years of living up to the name of evolving the beautiful game, Konami's latest Pro Evolution Soccer effort is an embarrassment for a series that has served as the dominant title in the genre.

Compared to the HD versions, this PS2 game has significantly better features, such as great cross-compatibility with the handheld version.

The ability to download existing leagues, cups and tournaments from the console game to the PSP is a fine addition to the core gameplay, which is fundamentally the same as in the last two games.

If you enjoy this type of game, you won't find a much better example of it in the portable world.

Wild ARMs XF is an interesting strategy game, one that will entertain you with its charming storyline, an adorable puppy unit, and plenty of customization options. On the other hand, the attractive video sequences you may remember from the RPGs were replaced by rather uninteresting town conversations.

While Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters was a hoot on the PSP, the move to the PS2 has done nothing to improve the game in general and serves as a great commercial for the PSP version more than anything else.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl isn't a giant leap forward from "Super Smash Bros. Melee," but it didn't have to be. This is going to be the game that Wii owners will be playing for the life of the system, and they're going to love every minute of it.

If you're looking for a profound single-player experience, you'll be annoyed by the issues with the artificial intelligence, but if you plan to play with a friend, this game is well worth checking out.

If you're looking for a profound single-player experience, you'll be annoyed by the issues with the artificial intelligence, but if you plan to play with a friend, this game is well worth checking out.

Chains of Olympus is more than another console game grafted to PSP; it's a pint-sized triumph for the platform.

Bully is a game that transcends the technical limitations of its programming, achieving despite its flaws in ways that few games have dared to try.

One of Bully's most incredible achievements is in the realm of sound.

It shows flashes of its former brilliance through two new races that are full of personality and are a lot of fun to play with, but falls flat through a lackluster single-player campaign, mediocre (at best) new air units and two devastating bugs that will kill the multiplayer scene until Relic issues an eventual patch.

We don't doubt that Ninja Reflex will improve your reflexes and bring you some small level of coordination. On the other hand, you could probably achieve the same effect with a fighting game or shooter, and have twice the fun.

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.

The improved pitcher interface adds depth and the graphics upgrades add some eye candy.

This year, the difference between Sony's handheld game and that from 2K Sports is wider than ever. With MLB '08: The Show boasting a new and deeper pitcher-versus-batter experience and the ability to save games at any point, it's clearly the strongest version of the game to date.

Shiren is absolutely and utterly a game for the hardcore. Being flung back to level one for dumb luck or a simple error is infuriating, and Shiren lacks the storytelling polish that many gamers expect from their titles regardless of genre, but the core game is very well done.

The poor frame-rate combined with the shoddy online play and the occasional system lock-ups drag the game down into mediocrity. And that's a terrible shame for Xbox 360 owners who really have no other choice but to wait for an update from 2K Sports.

While the gameplay remains solid and the features are there in full force, the technical issues and sub-par graphics make it absolutely impossible to recommend over Sony's "MLB 08: The Show."

A huge step in the right direction in combining the hands-on experience that the system is known for with authentic baseball gameplay. There are still plenty of kinks to work out, and next year there will simply be no excuse for omitting online play or the ability to update rosters because the roster that ships with the game is painfully out of date.

One gets the feeling that the show's creators are trying to wash their hands of Via Domus, awkwardly placed as it is in the series' now-sprawling legendarium. But above and beyond that, fans should approach it as a lark; it's not very accomplished as a game.

It also runs poorly, replete with graphical glitches and technical hiccups that make the game feel shoddy and unfinished. At a moment when so many excellent shooters are on the market and thriving in the multiplayer scene, there's very little incentive to endure something like this.

It also runs poorly, replete with graphical glitches and technical hiccups that make the game feel shoddy and unfinished. At a moment when so many excellent shooters are on the market and thriving in the multiplayer scene, there's very little incentive to endure something like this.

Its uninspired game design feels completely mired in an era that we'd sooner be done with. There's simply no reason to waste your time with it.

One gets the feeling that the show's creators are trying to wash their hands of Via Domus, awkwardly placed as it is in the series' now-sprawling legendarium. But above and beyond that, fans should approach it as a lark; it's not very accomplished as a game.

One gets the feeling that the show's creators are trying to wash their hands of Via Domus, awkwardly placed as it is in the series' now-sprawling legendarium. But above and beyond that, fans should approach it as a lark; it's not very accomplished as a game.

Patapon is like a cleverly designed trojan horse, built to sucker you in with cute graphics and then beat you down with its primal, rhythmic challenge. It's great fun, but you may find it tough to actually play the game on the go considering the amount of attention it requires.

Though we found plenty of things to annoy us, the basic gameplay and extravagant character roster (once unlocked) should be enough to satisfy most fans.

Capcom has created a PS3 version of Lost Planet that includes extraordinarily limited bonus content and which doesn't run very well.

While the single-player game is worth playing through, you should play Frontlines: Fuel of War because it brings to bear the best of what made the Battlefield series so popular. Big maps, plenty of weaponry, and many different ways to approach combat make this a solid choice for multiplayer enthusiasts.

If you can get it to run, there's a lot to like in Frontlines: Fuel of War, and it could provide for many late nights of multiplayer excitement. But for now, your best bet is to wait until the dust clears and hope for something, soon, that resembles a finished product.

Big Willy Unleashed isn't a bad game; it just feels extremely watered-down. Perhaps it's because all the real effort is being put into Crypto's upcoming PS3 debut, but this feels like a pale imitation of the other DAH titles.

It's the weak multiplayer that keeps us from recommending The Club with full enthusiasm.

It's the weak multiplayer that keeps us from recommending The Club with full enthusiasm.

Fans probably won't be bothered by being forced to muck through the multiple load-screens or unskippable cut-scenes, but gamers just here for the action may find these elements too much to bear.