Sacred Citadel’s obvious finale will leave you wondering why it shipped with a half-baked story. Thankfully, the enjoyable combat steals the spotlight, though it doesn’t come away unblemished.

Lucidity is an interesting experiment, a beautiful indie-flavored game and a welcome addition to Xbox Live’s crowd of old arcade game ports. Gamers who appreciate metaphor and meaning will certainly find much to enjoy here. It’s just a shame that it isn’t more fun to play.

For gamers who like things categorically insane, you're looking at a go-to, button-mashy party game.

Littered with bugs, excruciating load times, and a severely padded ending, ReCore is a great example of good ideas, flawed execution.

Even if The Life isn't perfect, what with gobs of unbearably long load times, it's a unique twist that no other hoops title offers. So it doesn't have much, if any, true replay value - that's OK. It's compelling, and the best part of a game that is otherwise mostly overshadowed by its counterparts.

Just like last year's edition, The Legend of Heroes II just about gets the job done... with very little panache.

Web of Shadows is a reasonably good time, but unless the Wii is your main gaming console, you’ll want to play it on a higher-end machine with less gimmicky controls.

Spider-Man 3 is so by the numbers, so average that we just can't muster much enthusiasm. Comic fans'll hate the inconsistent power levels while hardcore gamers will balk at how routine it feels.

An average run-and-gunner that wouldn’t deserve a second look if it weren’t for its use of Wii’s unique controls. Pacing is horrible, with levels constantly being interrupted by overblown dialogue.

For now, buy this to get the headset for Resistance 2 and come back to SOCOM in a couple months. Maybe it’ll be completed by then.

There's no reason why any J-RPG fans, or those with a particular penchant for blocky cutscenes, won't feel their 30 bucks was well spent on Awakened Shadow.

More frustrating than fun as we saved, loaded, and crashed our way through this epic, yet tedious title.

Fat Princess Adventures is colourful and endearing at first, but the proof is in the gameplay pudding. Unsatisfying, flimsy combat and class-specific loot drops make extended play a real grind.

Yars Rising keeps the spirit of its inspiration alive through the robust old-school challenges of a hacking game, but as a 2D Metroidvania it all falls a bit flat. Great controls, fun ability progression, and a killer soundtrack can't elevate the game past the limitations of its straightforward level design.

If you’re looking for a challenging mystery adventure, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a 5-6 hour distraction, Hard Evidence is the game for you.

In the end, the shoddy interface, graphics, and controls do more than step on the toes of some interesting concepts - they massacre them.

Scarygirl isn't a total disappointment. Sure, the combat isn't its strongest suit, and being steamrolled time and time again by the tough battles later in the game gets old, but it's hard not to be drawn in by this curious cartoonish realm and the weirdos who live in it. This highly imaginative and beautiful game redeems itself with quirky creativity when its mechanics occasionally fumble.

Stacked could benefit from more polish and deeper player customization (no, we don't want to look fat and balding, even if we are), but its actual gameplay is solid, and the creepy I'm-watching-you-so-I-can-destroy-you vibe can only help your real-world strategy.

But its solid play mechanics aren't enough to overcome the near-complete lack of licensed courses and golfers, or the various other oversights and issues that plague it.

But even though the game shares some DNA with gems like the WarioWare series or the trippy Katamari Damacy, WTF got the short end of the genetic stick. If you’re going to spend your free time doing something that’s ultimately pointless and repetitive, you might as well get a real job.

Lords of Shadow 2 is a sequel that simply tries to do too much. It fills out its lengthy running time not with deeper explorations of the surgically precise combat, platforming, and cohesive world-building of its predecessor, but with multiple misguided, jarring new elements that all-too often fail to satisfy in their own right. Worse, they make for a diluted, deeply disjointed overall game experience.

Sonic Lost World feels like a Sonic game, works like a Mario game, and feels totally at home on the Wii U as a result. With the most convincing 3D Sonic gameplay by some margin, it’ll no doubt be looked back on as the game that aimed for the Galaxy, missed by a small amount, but still landed in the stars.

Building an army of rotting corpses is a blast, and it's especially satisfying to see your current tally of allies - represented by decaying zombie heads - grow along the bottom of the HUD. However, as much fun as it is to sic your pale-skinned psychos on a variety of low-level henchmen and screen-swallowing bosses, Undead Knights' flaws occasionally pull you from the fun.

It's hard not to be frustrated by the poor visibility and abrupt, inconclusive ending (we suspect this is a prequel to the movie), but this still manages to emerge as one of the PSP's better shooters.

Despite its unattractive exterior, Puzzle Kingdoms shines where it counts – fun, addicting puzzles with tons of meaningful customization options, and no BS filler (like, ahem, PQ Galactrix’s tedious leap gate hacking).

If you’re a serious fan of Final Fantasy and have somehow yet to play the second installment, this is a fairly solid re-make that will at least bolster your appreciation for the series’ roots.

Worthy in its (assumed) intent, and visually spellbinding, The Order’s archaic, player-detached approaches to interaction and narrative nonetheless make it a dated and instantly forgettable experience.

Atelier Iris 3's gameplay systems will tickle RPGers' OCD mental G-spot for a bit, but not often or long enough to put up with the game's lack of any other redeeming values.

It's just that the intense complexity and cramped screen real-estate kept it from being the accessible, instantly lovable smash-bang, super hero-em-up that the comics themselves are.

Unfortunately, the repetitive battle tactics and bland storyline get stale after a few rounds, and all but the most dedicated Trekophiles will likely ditch it for more varied (and plentiful) strategic DS fare.

The final topper is how pulled-back and choppy the graphics are in comparison to the first Rearmed. The camera is farther out, making everything feel less substantial, and the overall fluidity is noticeably less smooth.

While it's an improvement over the first game, Kane & Lynch 2's high production values and streamlined focus are overshadowed by its thudding repetition, narrowly linear design, five-hour campaign and hugely unappealing protagonists. It's still a decent shooter, but it's definitely not for everyone.

If you are a devoted fan of the series looking to revisit the DBZ universe, then this game is certainly worth your time and dollar. For gamers just looking for an exciting fighting game, its best to leave this one on the shelf.

The game is so short the included four unreleased television episodes last nearly as long as the campaign, and the humor is devoid of any Shrek-style double entendres to keep adults entertained. We can't stress enough that this game is perfect for a kid, but that's about all it's perfect for.

A tidy tester for your New 3DS’ excellent head-tracking 3D, but there’s too little for old hands to grasp onto. Even if you’re a first timer flyer it’s hardly a direct hit.

The combat is challenging - you'll need to upgrade each fighter, purchase combos and experiment on enemies to find what moves they're weak against. The special powers, on the other hand, are kind of a bore with onscreen icons showing where they can be used to achieve obvious results.

Sporting loads of depth at some levels, yet lacking greatly at others, MX vs ATV Alive will likely have a narrow appeal.

Unlockable spells lend a little variety to the otherwise stale battles with moron squid-monsters and typical fantasy fodder. Beyond that, this is a stagnant role-playing game with nothing to offer anyone who isn't already obsessed with the original game, the 2001 PC remake this is based on, or the DS remake from 2009.

There's going to be a certain group of fans who absolutely love (lovelovelovelovelove) DanceMasters – it does a great job of translating the spirit of DDR to the Kinect interface.

It doesn't quite match its rival "College Hoops 2K7" on the court or the price tag (it's $10 more).

Its special guns do some amazing things, but they're boring to shoot. Its tight, responsive controls means it plays like a dream, but they merely offset the tedium that comes with blasting away thousands of generic enemies. And its progression system gives you something to strive for--until you give it a once-over and find useful upgrades to be few and far between.

So in the end you have a fairly decent racer swimming a lake polluted with a metric ton of collectable refuse.

Like a top draft pick that makes the team but doesn't put up Pro Bowl numbers. It provides a healthy portion of the traditional Madden experience, but lacks the niftiest new parts of Connected Careers as well as the ability to use cross-play with the PS3. Because of that, it's a reminder of years past when it could've been cutting-edge.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is the definition of a crying shame. Clumsy writing and flat, repetitive world design expose a handful of good ideas that never take root, while its poor technical quality and unstable performance will render it unplayable for some. The result is a half-baked, blunt-toothed action-mystery hybrid that disappoints at almost every turn, struggling to leave even the ghost of a good impression.

It looks, plays, and feels exactly like a quick, smooth, arcade-style basketball game from ten years ago, but with slightly next-gen graphics, and that can still be fun. But the game's only competitor looks better, plays smarter, and offers more game modes and adjustable options than can easily be counted.

The biggest problems with Vanguard lies in its graphics and overall length. It takes only six to eight hours to complete the game on normal, and graphically the game looks like it’s seen some serious battle.

We're not thrilled with the limited character creation options and we don't understand why every time we opt for an AdHoc or Wi-Fi game, the game forces a full system reset.

Revenge of the Fallen lacks the polished sheen and balance of some of its competitors – its looks are average, and the level design and mission parameters are painfully typical. But when the Transformers themselves are freed from silly plotlines and allowed to stand or fall on their own merits, as they are in the multiplayer modes, their distinct set of abilities make them truly engaging.

The series' most stylish entry ever thanks to The Yard and player customization, but these new features come without the substance required to contend for football glory.

The only possible "don’t-buy" concern in Missile Command is that, like fellow old-school, arcade quarter munchers "Robotron" and "Defender", it’s relentlessly, almost brutally difficult...You will find some nice multiplayer action though, and at five bucks, this is a no-brainer.

Put this one squarely in the party game camp, but it’s a welcome spin on the quiz genre.

While some classic arcade games (like old episodes of the "Thundercats" cartoon) are more fit for reminiscence than actual play, Time Pilot proves that what was mind-blowingly awesome back in the day can still detonate brains just as well now.

Other than the painful boredom, there's nothing overtly wrong with the game, and the co-op mode might be of use to fans of the film, along with unlockable art, characters and weapons.

Fans will still find the game fun, because the dances are going to either impress with their novelty or their nostalgia factor, and because the Kinect gets this game a lot closer to what it should've been all along.

If you can get past these problems, The Undergarden is a competent puzzle game with beautiful (if a bit samey) art and music direction, a light hearted concept, and an absolutely adorable protagonist.

It's a complete misfire, and no amount of goofy skins or nifty track editors can make up for the seriously busted fundamentals.

If you're reading this review, odds are good that you're probably a Naruto fan who already wants to buy this game and you just want to know what to expect. You'll like Uzumaki Chronicles - it's got all your favorite characters in beat-em-up gameplay that isn't half bad. But if you're not a fan of the series, there's nothing to see here.

Strategy fans will dig this game's effortless online experience, which alleviates the need to travel around town with a small vinyl briefcase full of checkers and dice, looking for fresh backgammon challengers.

With so many other notable SRPGs already out for portable consoles, Hero's Saga: Laevatein Tactics fails to emulate the magic of its forebears such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre, and also fails to define itself among contemporaries like Rondo of Swords and Jeanne D'Arc. We still love classic SRPGs; it's just that at this point, Hero's Saga feels like a step back.

A smooth and simple survival-lite experience, Survival Kids does what it sets out to do well whether you're playing alone or with others. It's just a shame that what it sets out to do isn't always as ambitious as it could be.

You could do worse with silly, weapons based driving action, but it may not warrant purchase if Mario Kart DS already has a place on your shelf.

Hero-swapping tactics add a unique edge to third-person combat, while humor and heart elevate Agents of Mayhem's typical world-saving fundamentals to memorable heights.

The problem is that it's all very rote, all content we've played before in better games, and all the promise seeded in that term, MMO, goes unfulfilled.

Despite its repetitiveness and the unfortunate lack of multiplayer modes, Monster House is good game that's perfect for some violence on the run.

PowerUp Forever has a gorgeous look, and if it copies too heavily from other games, it combines the borrowed bits in a truly unique way. It’s more artistic than most games, but it’s also strictly a solo experience. There are a ton of other twin-stick shooters that are just a little deeper and better balanced, and many of them offer multiplayer support.

Silverfall doesn't offer anything dynamically new, but it's a fun world full of things to whack with a satisfying storyline and well thought out characters and skill development.

While it's an improvement over the first game, Kane & Lynch 2's high production values and streamlined focus are overshadowed by its thudding repetition, narrowly linear design, five-hour campaign and hugely unappealing protagonists. It's still a decent shooter, but it's definitely not for everyone.

The game offers plenty of stages, and ranks your score at the end of each. Challenges are opened up after you finish each level, and if you haven’t become disenchanted with Wiley by then, there’s a lot left to do. That is, if you still give a flick.

If you can stomach grinding through hundreds of dungeons, then there's dozens and dozens of hours for you to enjoy. If you're waiting for the next great Pokemon adventure, however, keep waiting. This isn't it.

With more menus than a Parisian dining district, Aedis Eclipse: Generation of Chaos gets bogged down by its own ambition. And the game’s relative ease only makes its strategic density seem all the more unnecessary.

It's still plenty of wacky, crazy fun with four human players, but it's still a shame that it doesn't rise above the glut of other minigames compilations on the Wii despite its prestigious pedigree and the most impressive cast in all gamedom.

The point is, like the rest of this game, the story is okay. But just okay. And it only lasts maybe ten hours, though online-enabled multiplayer matches can extend that a bit. And to be honest, without more innovation (sorry, touch-screen minigames aren’t really new) it really doesn’t deserve to be any longer.

The title is certainly fun, with a catchy soundtrack and a nice level of depth to its gameplay, but its short length and unusual premise make it difficult to recommend. Still, if rhythm games are your thing, Orgarhythm is a unique take on the style that will prove to be entertaining in spite of its shortcomings.

An unsatisfying mix of shallow strategy and low-energy shooting, Disintegration is hard to recommend to fans of either genre.

At $10 more than the PS2/GameCube versions, you’ll get a better looking game, but with wonky controls. Had the Camera or Dash button been changed, then we might have film-tie in greatness here. Either way, the GameCube version is cheaper and will still play on your Wii.

So while the spectacle of the park exceeds the actual rides, PokePark Wii is still worth checking out if you're a fan of the actual Pokemon themselves and just want a relaxing Pokemon-themed diversion.

If you've already completed every sudoku puzzle in "Brain Age" and you just can't get enough, Gridmaster is definitely easy on the wallet. But it should be your second (or even third) choice for a portable sudoku fix.

It's hardly the pinnacle of stealth games - the enemies are dumb, and there's not much to do aside from sneaking and killing - but if you're in the mood for something creepy and horrific that'll leave you feeling a little dirty, Manhunt 2's still-shocking murders and eerie, is-it-real-or-am-I-just-insane storyline won't disappoint.

Metal Saga has ... a few one-liners. It possesses no traits to make it stand out among the current role-playing crop - or even the bulk of RPGs from a decade ago. Let this clunker rust.

Concord is by no means a disaster and has the potential to grow into a compelling hero shooter. But a thin selection of modes, characters who leave a weak impression, and a misguided overabundance of lore make it a hard sell currently.

In spite of all the sacrifices and questionable design decisions, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters is still a decent game, especially if you don't have the superior PSP version to compare it to.

Not remotely as long as its title. Rather, it winds down after about 12 hours or so, with no multiplayer options. Nor is it the most original. But the story is above par for a game or a TV show, and the sum of its parts equals a good, old fashioned, popcorn gaming experience.

It looks fantastic, and it's definitely sexy, albeit in an unabashedly slutty, so-tacky-you-should-probably-feel-ashamed kind of way. If that sounds cool, take this babe out on the town tonight.

BCR2 is still based on an awesome premise, so even a downgraded follow-up is pretty OK.

This is still the best Dynasty Warriors out there, and still well worth playing, but there's just not much reason to buy it if you have even a single eariler entry in the series.

Hardwood Spades is cheap, cute, competitive and worth the cash if you like team-based card games in the least.

Shovelware may be a be considered a generally deplorable concept, but it would have been better than this dreck.

"For fans only" is a well worn cliche, but in a game as incredibly specific and dedicated as NTG: 2011, it's the truth.

I'll play more polished, bigger and more bombastic blockbuster games this year, but We Happy Few will stay with me long after its quests are over.

An uninspired effort that does little to satiate football fans’ jones for a gridiron fix this winter. The combination of its eerie similarity to last year’s game with some framerate issues should dissuade all but the most dedicated Arenophiles from investing the $30 for this PS2 exclusive.

The game also suffers from some of the same problems as its Xbox Live Arcade stablemate Galaga - namely, the removal of two-player mode in any from from the arcade original, and a need for a more precise controller.

Kids who liked "Buzz! Junior: Jungle Party" will surely like this as well because it's almost the same game in a different wrapper. But older gamers will most likley want to let this one pass.

With 250 new ship upgrades, 100 new aircraft, and submarine warfare, Warship Gunner 2 is just the ticket for the gamer who always wanted to shout, "Damn the torpedoes! Full Speed ahead!" Just remember, it won't always be a pleasure cruise.

Sporting an immense amount of notoriously addictive card wars, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force is a no-brainer for fans and a decent introduction for the curious. You could easily sink weeks into the game and still come nowhere near unlocking all of the goodies that are available.

It’s all good, but it’s still a simple premise that wears out sooner rather than later for most folks – a free game that lasts this long is great, but when we’re shelling out actual money, we have higher expectations.

Though it doesn't stand up to the franchise's grander releases, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia is a fun and thoughtful stealth experience, easily the best to bear the Chronicles name.

"For fans only" is a well worn cliche, but in a game as incredibly specific and dedicated as NTG: 2011, it's the truth.

Rabbids games are built to fit one quality and one quality only: funny.