If you enjoy playing the best, then you absolutely need to play Super Mario Galaxy. It's our favorite Wii game this year, and a strong contender for the best game of the year.

As a shooter, it's an awfully generic game that we're hard-pressed to recommend among the smorgasbord of significantly better FPS titles out there right now. As a political allegory, it's undermined by poor audio with no subtitles, heavy-handed storytelling, and little to emotionally invest in these characters.

The multiplayer is by far the strongest element of the game, so hopefully we'll see both more ease of connection and an update to online options in the future. With both of those things in place, most likely in a sequel, Squad Command might not be a game whose biggest enemy is itself.

The biggest problem is the lack of difficulty and subsequent lack of replayability, but while it lasts Boogie offers a pleasant distraction from the usual crop of rhythm action games on the market. It's a strange title but one that's not without merit.

The puzzles themselves are very well-done. They aren't outrageously difficult by adventure game standards but they're very organic to the game's unique worldview and can be a bit challenging to those not used to the complete disregard for linear thinking, logic and classical physics that characterize Sam and Max's world.

A solid addition to an already impressive franchise.

The next Dragon Quest Monsters installment on DS will probably be even better, but in the meantime players can enjoy this fun and innovative experience that is more than just another Pokemon game.

PC strategy gamers have a lot to choose from on store shelves these days, and bugs, muddled combat, or weak AI aren't things that strategy fans have to live with. It pains us to admit it as fans of the franchise, but this Empire is definitely in decline.

Mario & Sonic is by no means a bad compilation of sports-oriented mini-games; it's occasionally flawed but ultimately fun.

Perhaps the best compliment that one can pay to LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga is that it feels like you're playing with a living LEGO playset.

With both of the previous games and bonus content, it's a great value and it'll provide hours of entertainment. LSW veterans, however, might not want to dive in so soon, however, as you've played most of this game already.

With both of the previous games and bonus content, it's a great value and it'll provide hours of entertainment. LSW veterans, however, might not want to dive in so soon, however, as you've played most of this game already.

If the original game didn't originally hook you, Forged Alliance won't do much to bring you into the fold, but it's a must-have for those who spent 2007 fighting the Infinite War.

Amazingly polished for such a dramatic change in design philosophy, and the fun you'll have playing it more than makes up for its troublesome camera, tepid multiplayer, and absence of actual bloodshed.

Everything about the game's presentation is top-notch, from the washed-out stylized art design to the feature-film level soundtrack that pounds away from start to finish. And that's really what Gears is all about: it's a slick, polished action film that you happen to play on your PC.

Just an exercise in scribbling faster than everybody else, with no real challenge and no rewards. It's just not fun: who wants to buy a game that offers no fun at all?

Your love for trivia games will heavily determine whether you want to pick up this package or not, as there's a great deal here for movie fans but probably not a lot for others.

If only Microsoft could have exercised a bit more of the gardener's patience and attention to detail, Viva Pinata could have been a bumper crop of gaming goodness.

One of the best strategy games released this year.

It's a rarity to play a game as highly polished and as well-crafted as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. We cannot recommend it enough and fans of the series are getting just what they've been wishing for since "CoD2" released over two years ago.

We've played both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions extensively and have had zero crashes, little to no lag or stuttering, or any other kind of technical issues. The online experience is a testament to IW's high standards of production.

While the single-player campaign is outstanding in its own right, Call of Duty 4 contains one of the most addictive multiplayer modes we've ever played in a shooter.

If the development team had poured half the creativity and personality into the setting, character, content or story as they did into the fighting and looting, the game might have become a modern-day classic. Instead, what comes out of this Hellgate often feels a little underwhelming.

While the lack of an auction house hurts the game, the awesome combat, intense battlefield action, fun missions and interesting character progression is more than enough to keep players coming back for a good long while. A well-realized science fiction setting in a genre overflowing with elves and orcs doesn't hurt either.

The Witcher simply works -- its refreshing setting, engaging combat and potion system, and long, well-conceived campaign is a recipe for single-player greatness. It's the kind of game that actually makes you want to track down some of Sapkowski's stories to learn more about this refreshingly bleak world.

There's never a strong sense of "oh, you picked the crutch character" that there are in other fighters. Instead, it's a pure fighting experience that gamers who've only played Tekken, Dead or Alive, or Soul Calibur will be able to jump in and appreciate.

If you're looking for a fun party game for PS2 and you haven't made the leap to HD, Buzz! The Mega Quiz is a great time-waster for you and your friends.

Not only do you get a fairly rich role-playing experience, but you also get the jumping and exploring bonus of "Crackdown" and a thoroughly awesome fighting game as well.

If a sequel comes along with a greater variety of mini-games, more playable characters, and plenty of new dialogue (the two hosts' back-and-forth conversations get old quick), we'll be happy to play it. With this one, however, you might want to wait for a price drop before joining this party.

Part of what distinguishes Disgaea from more run-of-the-mill SRPGs is its wicked sense of humor, which makes just unveiling the story a treat.

Sure, there are a few problems, but it's worth, say, dealing with the busted camera to see which videogame the writers are going to parody next.

Sure, there are a few problems, but it's worth, say, dealing with the busted camera to see which videogame the writers are going to parody next.

If you're looking for a quality platformer on the DS, there are plenty of better choices out there. If you're looking for a funny game, however, The Simpsons Game ranks near the top of the list.

The game is short, explosive and downright slick and it's everything we hoped it was going to be.

A bland third-person stealth adventure with sub-par combat and annoyingly stylized death sequences.

A bland third-person stealth adventure with sub-par combat and annoyingly stylized death sequences.

The background material behind the storyline is well developed enough, and those with considerable tolerance for over-the-top gore and violence may derive some pleasure from it. But the game's execution as a bland third-person stealth adventure with sub-par combat and annoyingly stylized death sequences hamstrings what could have been a sleeper hit for mature audiences.

Battalion Wars 2 boasts enjoyable storylines and presentation along with killer weapons and a dose of strategy. That gets a gold star in our book. Four, even.

While Guitar Hero III is still an extremely solid game, there might as well be neon signs flashing in every venue: "isn't it time for you to get a new console?" You'll get your money's worth out of it, but it's hard to shake the feeling there's a better party going on somewhere else.

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.

Features like the boss battles, online play and co-op could have made Guitar Hero III a legend itself but end up feeling unpolished. Still, there's enough meat in Guitar Hero III to keep any would-be shredder happy for a long time... or at least until Guitar Hero IV comes out.

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.

As much as you'll wish for more variety in setting and situation, what you do get is so smooth, creepy, and darkly pleasurable that you'll be left with a smile and a twitch, if not necessarily satisfaction.

A surprisingly fun first effort that is well worth looking into if you're a fan of collectible card games.

Jericho's gameplay comes off as a decidedly "lather, rinse, repeat" affair where you enter a new area, kill the monsters that spawn and run at you and then move onto the next area and perform the monotonous experience all over again.

For fans of Clive Barker, Jericho could provide some degree of entertainment, and as we stated at the beginning of this review, it's not totally devoid of rewards. At the same time, it's difficult to recommend a game with so many lackluster elements in a world full of Gears of Wars and BioShocks (both of which managed to be scarier than Jericho).

It has a less-than-inspired storyline, but the creative and visually fun ways that you can dispatch of the countless number of enemies keeps things from becoming too ho-hum.

The game doesn't quite measure up to God of War, but it will satisfy that itch for carnage.

Sure, the 3D remake's a bit lukewarm, but that's only the appetizer. The main course? Two of the greatest exercises in virtual vampire slaying the world has yet seen. We'll pay $30 for that, no problem.

Fans will eat this game up, obviously, and everyone else will find it to be enjoyable if not terribly involving.

Providing solid gameplay throughout the duration of the game and the incredibly fun online modes, Ace Combat 6 ups the ante and more than makes up for the minor failings of previous versions.

Between its extraordinary collection of cerebral trials, its comprehensive menagerie of shape-shifting animal-tools, and its skilled use of almost instinctual motion control, Zack & Wiki reveals itself as an unexpected, must-own treasure.

It's by no means the end of the Ace Attorney series, but in regard to tying up loose ends and leaving the game's rabid fans happy, it's the best in the series so far.

Sadly, Ratchet & Clank Future has no multiplayer component to speak of, which bothers us both because we love multiplayer and because the series had a bit of a multiplayer groove for a while.

It would be a lot easier to recommend if it were half that price. As it is, you're paying $40 for lackluster collection of old arcade games, a port of a good DS game, and a handful of varying quality remixes that all feel like expanded mini-games.

Anyone who has experience with other RPGs will probably become bored with this game after an hour or two. Although the quest is relatively long, the gameplay offers little in the way of innovation, insuring that the only people who will see it through are the most diehard of Naruto fans.

With limited customization available for riders (only eight!) a lack of any real explanation on how to actually play the game, a non-existent soundtrack (exactly how many hours of "vroom, vroom, vroom, screeeech, crash" can a person be expected to take?), and a limited sense of fun that other racing games like SSX and BurnOut (or even Forza 2) excel at, MotoGP 07 is a serious, hardcore game that demands a high skill level and a certain amount of earnestness from its players.

If you're new to the franchise and don't mind spending some quality hours shopping for mech legs, shields, and shoulder-mounted missile launchers, you'll have a game that'll keep you busy for a long time.

True to its manga roots, there's plenty of goofy dialogue and eye-popping artwork alongside a surprisingly robust boxing engine.

Nobody expects the remastering of Tomb Raider to be game of the year material, but Tomb Raider: Anniversary provides enough of the original game's thrills to be considered satisfyingly decent.

A beautiful example of how Maxis' long-running series can renew itself and even become appealing to console owners. There's plenty to do, a lot to discover and even when everything is done players can decide to stick around the islands and keep tinkering.

A rare and generous package of new visuals, new gameplay, and absolutely crucial improvements to the core game. If you weren't an Age III fan before Asian Dynasties, get ready to be one now.

The controls are tighter than they are in the 360 version and you will dig the Spook Meter, but the less impressive graphics and a clunky genetic-based leveling-up system may leave you wanting.

A beautiful example of how Maxis' long-running series can renew itself and even become appealing to console owners. There's plenty to do, a lot to discover and even when everything is done players can decide to stick around the islands and keep tinkering.

Playing against a pal or three isn't truly any less repetitive and tiresome than the endless sequence of door breaches and fire-and-forget gun battles that define the single-player experience, but it's at least different enough to add some middling interest to a game with little in reserve.

There's a reason that people fell in love with Katamari Damacy a few years ago -- it's an addicting and utterly charming experience.

If you hadn't played or owned the Xbox 360 previously, you're getting a rather short, mostly entertaining table tennis game. However, for those of you who've played the 360 game, double-dipping would be a mistake. You're paying the same price the 360 version released for to get a graphically downgraded and stripped version of what was a rather exceptional 360 game.

It's important to note that there are some very solid fundamental designs at work here, and an entertaining game can be found if you have the patience to stomach the painful technical issues and the small user base that currently plagues Fury. In a best-case scenario, Fury's population would quadruple in the next six months, and with a larger community, some of the player-matching issues would clear up.

Conquest is frustrating because a true update to the original series with modern design elements and sharp graphics would be a welcome sight for any real-time strategy fan. To drop this game on the public is a low blow to anyone who remembers the old game.

The single best bargain currently available for the Wii.

In spite of its solid online multiplayer, good video editor, and fun arcade game, the overall experience can't rise to the level of the game's great predecessors.

In spite of its solid online multiplayer, good video editor, and fun arcade game, the overall experience can't rise to the level of the game's great predecessors.

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground does a surprisingly good job of bringing the Hawk experience to the Wii.

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground does exactly what most fans of the series probably expected.

If you're a Tony Hawk fan and you can't get enough of the series, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground for DS is indisputably the best of the bunch this year. It feels like the classic Hawk titles of five years ago, yet it manages to adapt some of the good elements from updated games to make a fulfilling experience.

Extra goodies aside, Flash Focus doesn't fall far from the Brain Age tree, so anyone who gets a kick out of using their DS to put their bodies and minds to the test will enjoy this.

Visually, it's probably the nicest-looking of the three NBA games. The created player progression concept works, as does the Games of the Week challenge mode. Where you may be disappointed is in the unresponsiveness of some of the controls and the lack of depth of gameplay modes -- especially the lack of a franchise mode.

The folks at SCE Studios San Diego have once again brought their A-game. They've somehow managed to cram an incredible amount of action into their fourth PSP hoops release.

Even though The Orange Box deserves accolades regarding the amount of "bang for your buck," it's really about quality here, not quantity. Aside from the fact that you're receiving five games on one disc, the craftsmanship that has gone into each of these titles rears its head with every Antlion you shoot, every high-velocity portal transfer you make, and every sentry gun you assemble.

Every game in the package is a winner, and the price makes it a no-brainer for anyone remotely interested in Half-Life or PC shooters in general.

The minute-to-minute gameplay is tried and true, and when you factor in the long-tailed character progression, well, let's just say it's a wrap. Puzzle Quest's designers are certainly onto something here.

At this point, it's a leading contender for our Multiplayer Game of the Year, and whether you pick it up as part of the Orange Box package or on its own via the Steam digital download service, it's worth every penny.

A worthy, entertaining addition to the Half-Life saga, even if it's a little more inconsistent than its predecessors. It's got plenty of the action, puzzles and set pieces that's made the series so successful to date, and that formula hasn't been tampered with.

Ine of the most unique, funny and satisfying games of 2007, and we can't wait until Valve produces more of it.

It has enough to keep any committed racing fan coming back for a good couple of months.

It has enough to keep any committed racing fan coming back for a good couple of months. Some may argue that the gameplay is dated and the lack of options is overly restrictive. Fair enough, stick to Gran Turismo. Everyone else should race, have fun, and enjoy the rally.

It's okay to be a little wary, but unlike the previous poorly conceived anime-based games you've played, this one's the real deal.

Bleach: Shattered Blade fails in many key areas. However, we'd be willing to overlook the dated graphics, horrid voice acting, wonky controls, or lack of depth if the game was one thing: fun. Hopefully Bleach diehards will enjoy it, because most players won't.

The new modding tools are an excellent addition to any homebrew RPG designer's bag of tricks and the single-player campaign is worth playing simply for the terrific story.

It's the foot-based missions that people play this game for. And to be more specific, it's the multiplayer foot-based missions that are enjoyable.

The core tactical gameplay is the real gem here, and its quality still shines 10 years after its first release. It's grinding, demanding gameplay that presumes a level of dedication and competence that many modern games don't, and it's all the better for it.

A long and satisfying exercise in combat experimentation, character development, and heady mythology. The curious mechanics and calculated, indirect combat won't appeal to everyone, but anyone that appreciates outlandish character design and trippy visuals should at least give it a try.

After four iterations, FIFA Soccer 08 feels like the first title to live up to the "next-gen" name.

After four iterations, FIFA Soccer 08 feels like the first title to live up to the "next-gen" name.

Overall though, FIFA 08 feels like a game that tries to please several people, and instead, pleases a very small minority.

Spot-on control, great atmosphere, more features than ever and balanced gameplay should send this one to the back of any soccer fan's net.

If you can put up with some repetition and the simplicity of the management system, you'll enjoy yourself. Most of the mini-games are quite a bit of fun, too, and they make for some good multiplayer sessions.

If you can put up with some repetition and the simplicity of the management system, you'll enjoy yourself. Most of the mini-games are quite a bit of fun, too, and they make for some good multiplayer sessions.