Even if you aren't interested in the story, Extraction is still one of the best-looking and most fun action games on the Wii.

Arctic Edge is a good portable racer, but I didn't find the tracks varied enough to keep my attention for more than a few minutes at a time. But hey, with an arcade-style racer like this, that's pretty much all you need -- and at least it's not costing you quarters each time.

It's a highly polished experience that will satisfy you if what you're looking for is yet another MMO, albeit one with a few more bells and whistles.

The story is more interesting and coherent than Halo's narrative has ever been, and the environments make the game feel slightly different at times, in an exciting, challenging way. That said, I wish Bungie had taken it even further; playing as the titular ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, essentially the Halo universe's version of a special forces unit) made me feel like they missed some opportunities.

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.

If you're a Batman fan, this is the best treatment the World's Greatest Detective has ever received in videogame form -- and if you're not a Batman fan, Arkham Asylum will change that. This is how to make a licensed game.

If you're a number-munching automotive aficionado with a penchant for judging games the way an accountant judges a financial portfolio, know that this is a racing game dedicated to the act of racing rather than the actors, more intent on refining the experience of driving rather than celebrating car culture with scads of vehicles.

If you're a number-munching automotive aficionado with a penchant for judging games the way an accountant judges a financial portfolio, know that this is a racing game dedicated to the act of racing rather than the actors, more intent on refining the experience of driving rather than celebrating car culture with scads of vehicles.

Even with the flaws in Scribblenauts' controls and the level editor -- which only allows you to make levels for use on your own card, and not share them with others -- it holds a special place in my heart for being the most fun I've ever had improving my vocabulary. It is, dare I say, the best piece of edutainment since Math Blaster.

There's very little in Bowser's Inside Story to not like. It's great to look at, the interaction between the "inside" and "outside" worlds is well thought-out, the mini-games and interactive battles are always a treat to play, and it's probably the funniest Mario & Luigi game yet.

Playing through the songs you've likely heard for your entire life gives you a new appreciation for the level of musicianship and songwriting on display. Somehow, Harmonix found a way to make the greatest band of all time even better.

If you love, like, or are even lukewarm on the band, grab it. Playing through the songs you've likely heard for your entire life gives you a new appreciation for the level of musicianship and songwriting on display. Somehow, Harmonix found a way to make the greatest band of all time even better.

If you love, like, or are even lukewarm on the band, grab it. Playing through the songs you've likely heard for your entire life gives you a new appreciation for the level of musicianship and songwriting on display. Somehow, Harmonix found a way to make the greatest band of all time even better.

Muramasa is frustrating because it's a game that should be great, but its compounded faults result in it merely being good. If you can overlook the repetitive combat and boring backtracking, then you'll get a kick out of slicing up ninjas and monsters for a few hours -- and you'll certainly like ogling one of the best looking titles on the Wii.

DiRT 2 is extraordinary sensory overload. It's gorgeous, it's thoroughly addictive, it mends past problems, and it's fun. Really fun. But it won't please all the realists out there, and it may not feel quite so perfect over the long haul. At $60, maybe it should have.

DiRT 2 is extraordinary sensory overload. It's gorgeous, it's thoroughly addictive, it mends past problems, and it's fun. Really fun. But it won't please all the realists out there, and it may not feel quite so perfect over the long haul. At $60, maybe it should have.

Broken Destiny's lackluster single-player game makes it a difficult game to unconditionally recommend. It's certainly a technical marvel, and if you have friends to play with, you'll love it. It really is a portable Soulcalibur game, with everything good that implies. But if you're fighting solo, be aware that this game isn't really designed for extended play.

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.

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.

Champions Online too often feels like a professionally assembled Second Life module, where character creation is king and the thrill of being superhuman wears thin once you realize that everything else just feels off. Whether or not future patches can set some of the more glaring flaws right is anybody's guess.

This action-adventure is so smart, so well-written, and delivered with such an obvious love for its source material, I daresay it is both the best licensed game ever made, and arguably the best game of its kind in our current console generation.

This action-adventure is so smart, so well-written, and delivered with such an obvious love for its source material, I daresay it is both the best licensed game ever made, and arguably the best game of its kind in our current console generation.

Apart from the poor dialogue, Dissidia is a largely enjoyable game, although its attempt at shoehorning in a wide variety of RPG elements (including the mystifying ability to create equippable items by performing certain combos in battle) to an otherwise action-oriented fighting game ends up being confusing.

The Metroid Prime series was pretty fantastic on its own, and now that all three titles have been brought together with some much-appreciated control improvements, it's one of the best titles (and certainly one of the best values) on the Wii. The new controls really do provide a good excuse for fans to double-dip.

Far more interactive -- and, more importantly, far more entertaining -- than any puzzle book could ever be.

It's a must-play game for anyone who loves the reward-based exploration and side-scrolling action of the side-scrollers of old.

If you're into WWII shooters -- and judging by the sales of every single Call of Duty title ever, you are -- but you're looking for something with a little twist to it -- which, judging by the sales of twisty straws, you are -- and you don't mind the color green -- and judging by the number of Irish people in the world, you don't -- you should get yourself a copy of Wolfenstein.

If you're into WWII shooters -- and judging by the sales of every single Call of Duty title ever, you are -- but you're looking for something with a little twist to it -- which, judging by the sales of twisty straws, you are -- and you don't mind the color green -- and judging by the number of Irish people in the world, you don't -- you should get yourself a copy of Wolfenstein.