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.

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.

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

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

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.

Even with significant flaws, it's still easily the best D&D game I've played since the power-duo of Baldur's Gate II and Planescape: Torment.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

But if you're already a fan who bought Supreme Commander, this is a big fat middle finger from Gas Powered Games and THQ.

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.

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.

You find yourself in a game resembling a mix of Fable and Pikmin.

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.

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

In the end, though, even with these complaints, Madden 08 still manages to deliver on a level the franchise hasn't seen in years, maybe ever, thanks to its amazing gameplay.

While Ninja Gaiden II is a difficult game, it's also far more forgiving than the original (particularly on the acolyte setting) and it gives you ample opportunities to beef up your skills and become a master ninja.

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.

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

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

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

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.