Getting to punch, kick and burn things as a Pokemon is a delight, but it doesn’t feel fair when playing with others.

Three or four years ago, this game would have been brilliant. Unfortunately the unexciting combat, ho-hum level design, and unimpressive graphics make it a poor alternative to the more recent champions of the hack and slash genre.

Red River may not appeal to everyone – our sense is that it's too hardcore for the console crowd and doesn't have enough of a unique identity for the PC crowd – but that shouldn't dissuade fans of the series or of modern-warfare shooters from taking a playthrough.

The bottom line is that diehard Avatar fans will probably be disappointed with the superficial storyline that lacks the charm of the original show, and newcomers will have trouble finding interest in the loosely tied-together missions.

Papo & Yo is undeniably one of the most unique PSN games you'll encounter. It makes brilliant use of symbols, metaphors, and beautiful presentation to tell a very dark and personal story about abuse, addiction, and consequences. And in that sense, it renders the gameplay issues -- from unwieldy controls, tedious late-game segments, and slightly one-note mechanics -- all the more unfortunate.

Most of the pieces for an interesting, compelling experience are there, but they simply never come together to create a memorable affair.

Another title that's pretty much what we expect from Mana these days - an average game (irrespective of the genre change) that's nothing compared to series' heyday.

The visual downgrade from the PSP to DS version make this a better bet on Sony's platform. Still, if you're a DS owner who's already conquered Advance Wars multiple times over, and are tiring of the brimming mini-game and sim line-up, you might appreciate this turn-based tactical title.

But to really enjoy this game without feeling stupid for paying for it, you have to forget all about Champions of Norrath or any downloadable RPG you can go get on the internet for free.

In a vacuum, it's not too shabby, but when compared to its competition this season, it's the red-headed stepchild in a crowded room.

Before too long though, it's a bit too easy to find yourself growing tired of the sheer volume of other cars to bash into and the constant eyeball-gymnastics required to track your lanes. There's a surprising amount of skill involved with doing well in many of these events, so the faint-hearted will grow weary too soon.

Die hard Sam Fisher fans don't necessarily need to return because they've seen the same thing better, and newcomers are jumping into an inferior version of an easily accessible console game. It's just cheaper to play Chaos Theory at its best.

It's more of an interesting but unfocused experiment than a tight, compelling Mega Man game.

So while Carbon won't necessarily offend your street racing senses, it's won't knock your socks off either. One thing's for sure - it beats the hell out of last year's Most Wanted DS title, but since that's not saying much at all, we say take another pass this time around.

Although it may keep you interested for a while, and some of the classes offer some interesting challenges, The Guild 2 is even more rough around the edges than the original Europa, and not nearly as deep or even as interesting.

If you can look past the last-last-gen flaws that absolutely should be gone by now, there’s a totally playable bit of gaming here that’ll scratch your RPG itch for the time being.

DCUO is just a casual masterwork that any comic book fan should take for a spin, and we fear the $14.99 monthly subscription fee will be the kryptonite that brings this hopeful giant to its knees.

If you’ve skipped a few March Madness semesters and haven’t joined the PS3/360 generation, there’s plenty here to sink your teeth into.

Code Vein's lackluster combat is held up by great character customization, and its boring world is driven by a memorable story. It's clunky and uneven, but fun.

Some fun improvements make this playable – yet Madden still features too much carryover. Not just from last year, but the last decade.

Rise of the Argonauts has a nice story and something to offer, but shortcomings like this chip away at the fun and ultimately keep the game from matching its legendary sources of inspiration.

If you expect groundbreaking insanity and innovative gameplay based on Grasshopper's legacy, Lollipop Chainsaw falls short of expectations. If you can successfully curb those expectations, then you've got yourself something quirky for a simple weekend playthrough, even if it's a game with some ups and some real downs.

A throwback to the bygone days of the RPG genre - whether that's a good or a bad thing depends on your tastes. But even players who aren't retro-fans will be hard-pressed to consider Magical Starsign a truly bad game.

Lightfall is a deeply uneven experience that makes a terrible first impression. An excellent new subclass and raid can only carry it so far, especially when new and exacerbated issues run this deep.

Sorry to say it, but the Wii version's at the bottom of the list for Carbon. It's not redefining the street racing genre, but at times it can still hit a sweet spot blend of intensity, danger and style.

If you haven’t spoken Similish in a few years, or are head over heels enamored with motion controls, this Sims 2 Pets could be a right neighborly slice of homemade pie. But for anyone else with a Wii and $50 bucks, we suggest you hold out for the upcoming "MySims."

The Shield has some unique things going for it, but the spotty enemy (and friend) intelligence and monotony keep it from achieving anything close to greatness.

It’s nothing revolutionary or even particularly interesting or compelling, but it’s not broken either. Those bored and desperate for an RPG fix can give this title a shot.