You'll likely never see a better utilization of the DS' touch-screen, nor will you play a pseudo-sim this engaging.

Despite its camera problems, its visual deficiencies, and the fact that it does some things worse than the original, I'm having lots of fun with Toadstool Tour.

The best arcade racer to hit the PC in years.

All in all, the game features enough choices and entertaining kills to have you playing some missions more than once, striving for that elusive Silent Assassin rating.

An absolutely fantastic title with superb graphics and tight gameplay. Single-player or multiplayer, no matter what your skill, you'll get hours of joy out of this sucker online or off.

I can say, though, that Darksiders 2 plays really, really well on a decent PC, so what it lacks in fidelity it at least partially makes up for in smooth framerates.

Instead of a true stealth engine, you have awkward "hide spots" to accommodate the free roaming. Combat is either too easy or too hard, lacking the brilliance of a dedicated action title. And the free-roaming, bound as it is to mission objectives that would be fine in a more linear game, is just unsatisfying. Each element of the game is individually interesting, but as a whole the package feels incomplete and patchwork more than innovative.

Frustrating moments aside, Vessel is another shining example of how the independent games scene is flourishing with creativity and originality. At just $14.99, Vessel is around a quarter of the price of a AAA game, but it contains more flair and ingenuity than most blockbuster games can muster. Do yourself a favor and invest in this indie gem, because Vessel is a rich, fulfilling and splash-tastic journey.

If you don't mind using your brain as you play, then approach this bench. Court is now in session.

Comes off as an uneven experience, but one with plenty of invigorating moments that make the whole thing feel worth it.

The environment, the quests, and the huge world you're in overcomes some of the technical issues with the game.

While there are a few small issues with the game, you're not going to find a better chess player -- or tutor -- on the market. Add to that all the options you're given, and Chessmaster 9000 is the perfect product for new players and veterans alike.

The basic gameplay is rock-solid, and fans of multiplayer RTS games will get far more than their money's worth out of it.

A fantastic game that will keep you enthralled for hours and hours. There are some annoying bugs, but even those can't derail this exceptional gaming experience.

Easily the best NASCAR game available... until "NASCAR 4" comes out in February.

It faithfully reproduces the classic action series, and the handful of modern conveniences are a nice addition. However, the display method the game uses looks bad and the extras are not quite there.

This was my favorite version of Bustin' Out. Although the graphics are sharper on the Xbox version and the PS2 version boasts online multiplay, the GCN-to-GBA connectivity feature gives this one a notable edge.

Veteran shooter fans and adrenaline addicts might find it a bit too slow for their taste. For others, though, PlanetSide may be the perfect fit to fill a genre that's been waiting to explode for a few years.

Deep RPG elements combined with the intuitive action mechanics immediately establish 38 Studios and Big Huge Games as a duo to be reckoned with (sorry, couldn't resist). Like its reanimated main character, Reckoning starts slow and creaky, but give it a chance. Once you start sampling its many action-role-playing flavors, you'll discover a new franchise that delivers like a series that has been polished and tweaked for years.

While it offers some nice additions to an already winning franchise, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 is the first game in the series that doesn't fully deliver the goods. One can't help but feel like the series needs a shot in the arm to get players excited again.

The accessible nature of Borderlands -- with its relatively non-punitive deaths, constant checkpoints, and convenient fast-travel systems -- makes it a fantastic game for introducing FPS fans to some basic RPG tropes. And, most importantly, the killing and looting never ceases to be fun.

A perfect example of how to bring a fleshed-out console sport onto a handheld, and all of the seemingly frivolous extras only help to enhance the experience when you're tired of battling the A.I.

While the strategic level is an admirable attempt at something halfway between the elegance of Civilization and the historical specificity of Europa Universalis, it doesn't have the benefit of letting a human player take over. Here, once again, the game falls apart when it breaks out of the strict scripting of the story-based missions.

The single-player experience is pretty sparse and really only worth playing to gain more characters, Achievement Points, and practice. Multiplayer is at the core of this game.

An interesting, exciting, and fun city-building strategy simulation that will surely stay on many hard drives for a long time.

For a truly surreal experience, take Hot Shots out to the course during your next 18, and play a hole or two in between real holes. The only danger there is the rest of your group might become too hooked on what you're doing on Open Tee rather than finishing the real round.

Tripwire can take a lot of pride in Red Orchestra: Ostfront, a game for history buffs and FPS aficionados and, more importantly, a shooter for adults.

Where development did put in the time was in coming up with a logical and intuitive new control scheme that lets you showcase all the moves that Street vets expect.