While the game's focus is clearly on driving, managing sponsors right will double or triple the income of winning an event and is a fun minigame on its own; making lots of money is crucial to entering higher-level, ultra-costly racing series.

While the game's focus is clearly on driving, managing sponsors right will double or triple the income of winning an event and is a fun minigame on its own; making lots of money is crucial to entering higher-level, ultra-costly racing series.

That's where the Wii Fit balance board comes in. Just like the Wii itself, it just looks like something you'd like to try out. But once you take that first step onto it, you might find yourself on the way to becoming more fit.

It's one of those rare family games that doesn't fall into the genres of minigame collection or rhythm title, and your seven-year-old kid will have as much fun as you do.

The new art direction, investment in physics technology, and better animation sum up to a huge aesthetic improvement over previous games, giving GTA IV a level of visual appeal it strained for in the previous generation.

The new art direction, investment in physics technology, and better animation sum up to a huge aesthetic improvement over previous games, giving GTA IV a level of visual appeal it strained for in the previous generation.

Mario Kart Wii doesn't stray far from the beaten track, but it has enough going to dazzle first-time MK drivers and a few new upgrades to challenge the long-time Karters, too.

And while it all seems a little hokey or emo (as the kids call it these days) at first, The World Ends With You is actually one of the most interesting and gratifying experiences I’ve had with an RPG in years.

Even though Rome is still plenty intimidating to anyone who has never experienced an EU game before, refinements to the interface and core gameplay make it surprisingly easy to sit down and start playing.

While a few minor things may have been lost in the port, I’d argue that ultimately this is a more important game for the Wii than it was for the PS2.

This episode is a carefully orchestrated symphony that ends story threads, revisiting each episode and all the characters in them with sharp wit, elegance, and great story-telling craft.

There's no reason for console players to get this version, but if you're console-less, and have the horsepower, it's still a worthy experience, if only to play something that's actually unique compared to other games out there.

It feels disappointing at first, but it quickly moves beyond that and turns into a game that, despite its shortcomings, is just plain fun.

It feels disappointing at first, but it quickly moves beyond that and turns into a game that, despite its shortcomings, is just plain fun.

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is incredibly accessible with nearly flawless controls and difficulty, or lack thereof in the normal difficulty setting.

The FFVII diehard should snag this post-haste (this really does make up for Dirge's mediocrity, honest), and even if you don't recognize the significance of playing Zack as opposed to Cloud, this is a worthy Japanese action-RPG.

This is a pretty well-constructed expansion; it adds a fair amount of new stuff at the right price point. It won't make you a C&C convert if you preferred other RTS games, but for fans of the old-school, superfast, almost action-y pace of C&C3, this is a welcome addition.

Quite possibly the ugliest game I've ever played--literally. I tip my hat to the developers at Monolith Productions for crafting a consistently dark, dirty, dilapidated, and decayed (and a host of other "d" words) world for both Condemned titles.

The game may shank some of the superficial niceties, but when it comes to the fundamentals, Hot Shots is still sinking aces, every time.

Best of all, the experience points and ACES rankings you earn are reflected offline and online, so your customized character always reflects your progress, skill, and accumulated weapons. On the surface, there is nothing terribly magic or new about this feature, but these rewards are handled and presented extremely well and their pervasiveness provides a feeling of accomplishment as well as a compelling reason to play all segments of the game.

Quite possibly the ugliest game I've ever played--literally. I tip my hat to the developers at Monolith Productions for crafting a consistently dark, dirty, dilapidated, and decayed (and a host of other "d" words) world for both Condemned titles.

Like its predecessor, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates is strong on action, and it's a kinder, gentler Final Fantasy that's relatively easy to pick up and play.

You might find that mastering some of controls can be a bear because Brawl's fighting game controls are being mapped over to a side-scrolling action platform game.

I’m pretty calloused when it comes to videogame stories—they’re usually too overwrought and overly complicated and repetitious to actually be good--but Chains of Olympus does have one of the more heart-wrenching moments I’ve seen in a game. I didn’t tear up, but I <I>did</I> feel a little twinge where my heart would be if I had one.

It takes the GTA formula and condenses it into a game that requires a quarter of the time commitment.

It takes the GTA formula and condenses it into a game that requires a quarter of the time commitment.

There are an overwhelming number of features in this game that should keep even the most die-hard fan happy until next spring.

While it may seem like Capcom's diving back into the well of a successful franchise, Apollo Justice is the first Ace Attorney game built from the ground up for the DS, and it succeeds in delivering just enough legal shenanigans that are serious enough--and silly enough--to entice both fans and rookies alike.

Great character parts by Jurgen, Cybil, and the comical Hans Moleman.

A solidly constructed game that truly anyone of any skill level can play. There's no multiplayer mode here per se, but that doesn't actually prevent Curious Village from being a party game--you can just read the puzzles out loud and any number of people can tackle them anywhere at any time.

If anything, the extra challenge is definitely a reason to play through the game a second (or third time) just to see if your skills can hold up. However, the addition of leaderboards, which rank players based on their overall score and scores for individual levels, will be the real reason to revisit the game.

If anything, the extra challenge is definitely a reason to play through the game a second (or third time) just to see if your skills can hold up. However, the addition of leaderboards, which rank players based on their overall score and scores for individual levels, will be the real reason to revisit the game.

Twisted Metal: Head On--Extra Twisted Edition is an entertaining compendium that's lovingly conceived and composed. The gameplay's as wicked as ever, and the price can't be beat. The entire package transports you to an earlier videogame era, and you get the real feeling this is the last Twisted Metal of its kind.

Sins is an epic space strategy game that has truly and seamlessly blended the traditional turn-based model with the modern real-time formula. And it's a great way to turn four hours into four minutes.

Extreme Justice is no world beater, and you wouldn't call it deep; but it is a solidly crafted action game with a good amount of gameplay. If you enjoyed the first Pursuit Force, this one's even better. And putting away bad guys is always a good time.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Burnout Paradise is that the barrier between online and offline play is almost invisible. You can be playing along by yourself, and then with a click of a button, you can invite another friend to join you in an event. It's one of the most organic transitions I've seen yet, and Criteron is definitely a pioneer in how online gaming will continue to evolve.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Burnout Paradise is that the barrier between online and offline play is almost invisible. You can be playing along by yourself, and then with a click of a button, you can invite another friend to join you in an event. It's one of the most organic transitions I've seen yet, and Criteron is definitely a pioneer in how online gaming will continue to evolve.

For all of its hiccups and its bloody personality, Heroes is the most fun you can have with a lightsaber without using the Force. Moreover, it serves as a reminder that the Wii's creative potential is broad, and that there are developers out there who are not afraid to play rough and get a little crazy.

Days of Ruin adds some sheen to an already polished product. It's true that the postapocalyptic look and feel make the overall mood darker, but the game maintains the essential Advance Wars style.

This episode is lean and character-packed, continuing the themes of portal transportation, more wacky situations, and riotous and outlandish humor.

There’s almost nothing about Super Swing that causes it to be mistaken for, say, Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf, but its strength is its nicely tuned swing mechanic that frankly puts Tiger’s woods and irons to the test.

It's the very definition of "widescreen sci-fi," with its alien vistas, far-out music, and giant ideas. It begins with an ominous opening and ends with a fantastic finale that expertly intercuts between your individual actions with a massive space battle. It's the rare title where the first thing I did upon finishing was to select "new game."

If anything, Rock Band serves as an almost perfect example of a game that caters to everyone, provided there’s interest in playing virtual instruments.

Overall, this is a great game that no true Geometry Wars fan will want to miss—just be sure you have a classic controller on hand for true enjoyment.

Messing around with UT3 made me realize that I kind of miss this deliberate throwback to super-fast multiplayer.

For the experienced basketball fan, you're going to pop in this game and say to yourself, 'It's about time.'

For the experienced basketball fan, you're going to pop in this game and say to yourself, 'It's about time.'

This game is one of the most immersive gaming experiences I've had this year, and it's definitely a great reason to own a PS3. The mix of platforming and gunplay worked really well and left me craving the next title in the series.

When you get past the stealth-themed missions early on, and move onto missions with full use of tanks, helicopters, rockets, and airstrikes, the tactical gameplay plus the production values turn Crysis into a love letter for military combat.

A game that attempts a lot of major development moves and it shows a lot of promise, even if it isn't always executed well.

A game that attempts a lot of major development moves and it shows a lot of promise, even if it isn't always executed well.

The good news is that once you do hop inside the ring, you tend to forget about who is missing as you try to figure out how you can slam your head into a steel cage or get hit in the back with barbed wire and not get hurt (you can't).

The good news is that once you do hop inside the ring, you tend to forget about who is missing as you try to figure out how you can slam your head into a steel cage or get hit in the back with barbed wire and not get hurt (you can't).

Happily, the gameplay avoids the trap of many dungeon-set games, which is that combat becomes repetitive and not very challenging.

Kudos to Aspyr for making a great port of the game and keeping all of the important aspects of the Guitar Hero III experience intact, including the online play, which is as simple as jumping into the online menu and challenging other guitar heroes. Still, if you can buy the console versions of the game, you're better off doing that.

There’s such a great deal of diversity throughout Super Mario Galaxy’s level design that it’s hard not to get excited when a new area opens, knowing that there’s a whole new set of puzzles and obstacles designed around the theme of the level...It’s because of these moments that Super Mario Galaxy generates a consistent level of excitement throughout the entire experience that few games can replicate.

A hilarious little adventure game buoyed by riotous humor, intuitive puzzles, and original charm.

While all the added content is damn good, ironically, the greatest gameplay addition to this PC port is also responsible for one of the bigger annoyances: the interface.

COD4 grips the imagination and finds a way to impact the player's emotions. And though we've seen a ton of games on similar subject matter, COD4 distinguishes itself with a washed-out gritty look and profound attention to detail. That same level of detail carries over to the online campaigns, which are just as vast and in-depth as anything found in the single player missions. From beginning to end--especially the end--COD4 is an amazing immersive experience.

COD4 grips the imagination and finds a way to impact the player's emotions. And though we've seen a ton of games on similar subject matter, COD4 distinguishes itself with a washed-out gritty look and profound attention to detail. That same level of detail carries over to the online campaigns, which are just as vast and in-depth as anything found in the single player missions. From beginning to end--especially the end--COD4 is an amazing immersive experience.

The neat tweaks to the basic mouse-click combat gameplay, plus the interesting world and the fascinating moral decisions to be made, make The Witcher an extremely good export for PC RPG fans.

And this is where the 360 version has a distinct edge over the PlayStation 3 version; you can actually show off your customized creation in online fighting, which gives players an all-new reason to play the quest mode religiously.

Everything gels when I approach Battalion Wars 2 the way it’s meant to be played--slowly and methodically, like a real-time strategy game.

If you’re looking for the best version of the guitar peripheral, then the Wii version wins out. Not only does it have a more weighty feel to it, but it also rumbles when you kick into star power--pretty cool.

As far as the actual game goes, the Xbox 360 version is the best since it looks better and its online functionality is substantially smoother than that of the Wii version.

Unlike many squad-based shooters that don't require the use of the whole team, Jericho's premise relies on it. What's equally important is that each character is genuinely worth playing.

Unlike many squad-based shooters that don't require the use of the whole team, Jericho's premise relies on it. What's equally important is that each character is genuinely worth playing.

Unlike many squad-based shooters that don't require the use of the whole team, Jericho's premise relies on it. What's equally important is that each character is genuinely worth playing.

But what really got me taking momentary breaks from the action was coming to the realization of just how much I miss this type of Castlevania game.

The most solid, robust, and realistic Ace Combat game yet. Even if you're not into playing online, Fires of Liberation offers a hearty helping of intense, varied combat that will keep you coming back long after you've completed your first campaign.

It's really fun to pull back from the level and look at it as a whole; in fact, it kind of makes me wish that I could have physical playsets of each of these levels.

It'd be interesting to see what would happen if Capcom took this same mechanic and setup and actually created courtroom dramas that weren't goofy and crazy. Nevertheless, one has to appreciate Phoenix Wright just for the fairly unique niche it holds in the videogame space.

It's rare that a game critic feels the way I do about this game, but in all honesty, I find it really difficult to find something that's not to like. The controls feel great. The graphics look great. The score sounds great. The weapon selection alone make me want to play the game over and over again, just to test out all the cool offered.

The 360 is much crisper in appearance, but you'll run across frame rate hiccups while you're playing.

A testament to the uniqueness and coolness of the new civilizations is that I can't pick a favorite side.

For parents, it's nice to have a gaming option that's not tied to licensing for yet another TV show. And the gameplay that is there fun and simple, so when the young gamer in the house does want to play multiplayer, it'll be entertaining for everyone.

After playing through both the old and new stuff, I realized that there is one word that perfectly summarizes Valve: craft. Never mind that ballyhoo about whether games are capital-A art or not. Instead, put someone in front of a Valve game, and watch that person experience sheer craftsmanship. It seems that Valve just can't make a bad game.

After playing through both the old and new stuff, I realized that there is one word that perfectly summarizes Valve: craft. Never mind that ballyhoo about whether games are capital-A art or not. Instead, put someone in front of a Valve game, and watch that person experience sheer craftsmanship. It seems that Valve just can't make a bad game.

The deep customization will have users tweaking for hours, and the online options offer a serviceable distraction from the offline campaign. Anyone claiming the PSP has no games should probably take a look at this one.

From the wireless versus mode to the intriguing approach to the cutscenes, this classic revision really shines. And I've always said that turn-based games are well suited for handheld gaming.

The ingredients here--spooky creatures, fantasy worlds, exploration of death--all have a familiar ring to them. This looks like the kind of game that Neil Gaiman (a contemporary fantasy writer) would make if he created games.

Players are forced to think, pass, move, and shoot more like pro soccer players than ever before--giving long-time Winning Eleven fans pause for thought.

The moment-to-moment, deep tactical gameplay is just that good. While games like Team Fortress 2 or Halo 3 are fantastic jump-in-and-play multiplayer experiences, Quake Wars is now the new king of tactical online multiplayer (apologies to Battlefield 2).

With so much content, from racing to destruction derbies to ragdoll bowling, this title will hold your attention for some time to come.

I can’t really remember the last time I had fun restarting a single race over and over and actually was excited about it because I knew that I was this close to having a perfect race--if only that stupid Ducati would just leave me alone.

A fantastic game. If you feel like a quick fix, you can hit up NBA blacktop mode and throw down some jams in a slam dunk contest out on the Vegas Strip (you can even jump over cars!). Want to head online? 2K8 features everything from leagues to two-player co-op play against the computer. Want to pause the game and gaze at Drew Gooden's patch on the back of his head? The choice (as strange as it may be) is yours.

A fantastic game. If you feel like a quick fix, you can hit up NBA blacktop mode and throw down some jams in a slam dunk contest out on the Vegas Strip (you can even jump over cars!). Want to head online? 2K8 features everything from leagues to two-player co-op play against the computer. Want to pause the game and gaze at Drew Gooden's patch on the back of his head? The choice (as strange as it may be) is yours.

Whether it’s making notes on the map screen using the stylus and yelling into the mic to expose the weakness of a sound-sensitive enemy or drawing symbols on doors, the Phantom Hourglass is a great way to show the kinds of things that the DS can do.

Post play is not only a viable option this year, it's my preferred way to score, and I really can't remember the last time that was true in a basketball game.

Post play is not only a viable option this year, it's my preferred way to score, and I really can't remember the last time that was true in a basketball game.

It's well-tested, well-honed, and polished--all qualities you'd expect from Bungie, but the developer's talented and hard-working team shouldn't be taken for granted. Halo 3 may look OK and play similarly, but it will stand in the top echelon of Xbox 360 games for years.

A beautiful-looking and great-playing game with a bright future ahead of it. This first effort is a worthy effort for any skating fans, though a little more design compression, some smarter level design, and a little more direction would have been nice.

Opposing Fronts is a damn solid expansion that is playable for total newbies, but works much better if paired with the original COH.

Despite single-player quirks like the crap AI or the sameness of the three factions (the only differences between U.S., NATO, and Russian units are the visuals and the accents when selecting units), the pure focus on tactics plus the FPS-style pacing make WIC a standout. It doesn’t hurt that it has the best visuals of any RTS to date.

A beautiful-looking and great-playing game with a bright future ahead of it. This first effort is a worthy effort for any skating fans, though a little more design compression, some smarter level design, and a little more direction would have been nice.

It’s refreshing to have a story in a videogame that I can actually take seriously. Ninja Theory’s commitment to storytelling shines through when you play it.

For the first time I can remember in a hockey game, it's not about how fast you set up your one-timer--it's about positioning, spacing, and setting up the perfect play.

Dirt is an excellent counterpoint to the shallower, more arcade-y MotorStorm, offering serious racing fans a full-bodied game replete with HD-gen graphics, physics, sound, and a great depth of off-road racing types.