More of the same, sure. But considering how much more fans are getting, that’s hardly a knock against the game. And even though games of this type almost require internet capability, there’s plenty of grinding to be done and you’ll get a lot of play time for your dollar, provided it’s your cup of tea.

With an emphasis on vehicular carnage and shattering buildings, Ridge Racer Unbounded rides high as long as you can find new thrills. However, the way it recycles elements from course to course quickly wears away the sense of discovery and makes it hard for user creations to truly stand apart.

While it’s lacking on the exploration end, Xillia 2 boasts a strong story component and combat system to deliver another solid RPG.

Disappointingly, White Knight Chronicles is a game that’s not too memorable in most respects, saved only by strong character customization and online play.

The Broken Bond isn’t a huge advancement for the Naruto franchise, but it does a fair job of matching battles and missions with the proper plot points.

The game exudes authenticity. From the fully-modeled firehouse headquarters to the way that tombstones shatter and bushes ignite when you spray them with proton, Ghostbusters transcends its modest tech with a careful attention to detail. One warning, though: you'll never want to hear the Ghostbusters theme ever again after sitting through a few loading screens.

Despite seeming derivative and plain on the surface, Space Marine succeeds in forging its own style. The action remains enjoyable no matter how many enemies you cut down or blast away, and the other elements of the game successfully support the core experience.

It's a fun game with solid platforming, though the combat can drag the experience down at times. If you're looking for one more adventure in the vein of Sands of Time, consider discovering The Forgotten Sands.

Attempting a character study of a deeply flawed action hero is an interesting gamble that just doesn't pay off, and the single-player experience continually struggles with leveraging the character's identity or unique skills. So it's got some issues. That said, the surprisingly entertaining multiplayer modes and a virtuoso treatment of extreme violence stand out as legitimate highpoints. It all basically comes down to your tolerance for pain.

If you’re a military hardware nut who likes the thought of intense firefights with realistic consequences, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 is for you.

While T-Bone doesn’t do too much to differentiate himself from Aiden Pearce, Bad Blood provides a few interesting twists to the core gameplay and some memorable moments along the way. With a great new set of story missions lasting several hours long, and the addition of co-op play, it’s worth picking up despite some repetitive side content.

We’re definitely disappointed in the implementation of the Wii controls in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. It could be so much more than it is, and with downgraded graphics and no online option, this is a lazy port. At the same time, there are more fighters, stages, and modes here than you’ll likely ever get around to messing with.

Though Contra ReBirth may not enjoy the same level of variety as other recent installments in the series, it's ultimately well worth the asking price.

It's a little light on features, but it delivers where it really counts. The racing is fast and with enough peripheral elements to keep it interesting, and its crazier side makes it unique.

Players looking for variety won't find it here, but for $15, it does a great job of keeping you hooked for hours on end.

With an expansive city to explore between levels, LEGO Batman 2 can easily be a likened to an Arkham City-lite. The promise of playing with other DC Super Heroes isn't brought to its full potential as the story remains laser-focused on Batman, Robin, and Superman, but there's a fun family-friendly adventure for these three leads.

Picking up Pushmo World isn't the most exciting prospect up front. It takes far too long to really get going, and we wish there were additional challenges and incentives to retry old puzzles. That said, it really does get more interesting as you dig deeper in, and there are more than enough individual puzzles to keep you busy for quite some time.

It’s often a glitchy and shallow experience, yet you’ll have an absolute blast playing it.

Even though it doesn’t have the jaw-dropping visuals of a game like Motorstorm, MX vs. ATV: Untamed delivers tight controls, great tracks, and a lot of options. There’s plenty to do, so you won’t get bored of playing in the dirt anytime soon.

Your patience is tested perhaps too often in Soul Sacrifice. The pacing feels too slow through most of the early goings and it's not until you've offered several hours and no small quantity of blood that the storytelling finally awakens to move with some purpose.

However much its color scheme may protest to the contrary, The Saboteur is not a classic. It gets the basics right, though, and it's peppered with a lot of exciting, memorable moments.

The real disappointment is that so little has changed, so unless you’re pumped to see high-res versions of the Hot Shots characters or can’t resist some online links, you can get the same experience a lot cheaper on the PSP.

The more players demand by way of stats, management options, and formation flexibility, the more this franchise gets left behind. Having a limited selection of real teams playing in a fabricated league just doesn’t cut it anymore. The gameplay remains as a solid foundation, but that can only take a game so far.

Brutally satisfying.

Even though it doesn’t have the jaw-dropping visuals of a game like Motorstorm, MX vs. ATV: Untamed delivers tight controls, great tracks, and a lot of options. There’s plenty to do, so you won’t get bored of playing in the dirt anytime soon.

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is candy, and it feels like the developers know it. This isn’t a deep fighting game, and it isn’t meant to be. It’s fan service at its most basic level. And while the Wii controls are a fun diversion at first, the inclusion of classic and GameCube controller support makes the game at least playable, if not spectacular.

Tomb Raider Underworld feels like a stopgap platforming adventure. It’s much better than the bile released under her name last generation, but it still manages to feel a few years behind.

The more players demand by way of stats, management options, and formation flexibility, the more this franchise gets left behind. Having a limited selection of real teams playing in a fabricated league just doesn’t cut it anymore. The gameplay remains as a solid foundation, but that can only take a game so far.

Frustratingly fun. By that, we mean it’s frustrating how fun the game can be, before it hits a part that’s decidedly the opposite. The sense of urgency the series is known for is definitely in-tact, and the first few runs through each level can be a blast. But you're forced to play this game with precision to move on, and the controls simply aren't there.

Lost World nearly trips over itself to find a compromise between pure speed and stopping to smell the roses, but unlike many other Sonic games, this one does a pretty good job.

While it doesn't grant a great sense of depth or progression, Gyromancer successfully leverages fantasy RPG elements to add an additional level of interest to a proven puzzle game experience.

A ridiculous rampage through the sexual revolution and beyond that will make you turn on, tune in, and eventually, drop out. There’s lots of fun to be had with the cutting-edge, human-hampering technology, but the rest of the design is so twentieth century.

No game has come closer to destroying the line between pencil and pixel than Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm. But after the honeymoon’s over, the romance doesn’t last. The series is struggling for some new ideas, and this game isn’t going to be the one to provide them.

Suffice to say, it won't be giving Square's vintage stock a run for its money, but if you've got some pocket change and a healthy admiration for Gabe and Tycho to spare, this amusing trip through time is certainly worth the expedition.

An absorbing experience while it lasts, but it's short-lived and lacks any truly direct, interactive moments. However, its approach to story is thought-provoking and open to interpretation, traits that are generally lacking in the medium as a whole.

A classic 2D brawler that's easy to pick up and enjoy, and it doesn't take itself seriously, with plenty of self-parody to go around. The adventure is over too soon, but if you've got a soft spot for this lighter version of the Dark Knight, don't let that stop you from suiting up.

It’s not a perfect collection, but a decent bundle with Kingdom Hearts Final Mix serving as the main attraction. If you’ve never played Kingdom Hearts, this might be a good opportunity to get acquainted with the series.

In all Super Time Force, is a humorous romp through the ages, but the core rewinding mechanic that makes it different fosters a love-hate relationship. It's both an asset and an obstacle, but with tons of characters and a quirky storyline, you’ll find the space and time to enjoy yourself.

Disgaea's bizarre story and ridiculous characters are difficult to tolerate, but it's the grueling challenge that'll ultimately make many cower away. However, underneath all the style and flash is an intricate RPG that forces you to dig in deep and puts your brains to the test.

This Spider-man isn't that amazing, but he saves the day anyway. His adventure goes the distance with enough ingenuity sprinkled into the sustained action to distract more often than he disappoints. Even with the kindergarten controls, you'll want to see the story to its conclusion.

NCAA Basketball 10 improves on last year's title in nearly every way, tapping directly into the heart of what college hoops fans love. If you're already hooping it up with NBA Live, though, the sparse feature-set makes it hard to justify the additional purchase, unless you're a diehard fan of NCAA basketball, or particularly love to run a motion offense.

Gravity Rush is definitely a looker, achieving a level of visual fidelity that wouldn't seem out of place in a high-end console game.

In spite of its technical flaws, Universe at War deserves merit twice over for not only presenting an RTS with a fresh spin on races, but also doing so with a neatly accessible control scheme.

Even with a few problems and annoyances, a generous, no-failure design makes it fun to just screw around or work together with another player. Super-serious cloud-whale pilots, if such a thing exists, may want to go for high scores and best times on the leaderboards.

A ridiculous rampage through the sexual revolution and beyond that will make you turn on, tune in, and eventually, drop out. There's lots of fun to be had with the cutting-edge, human-hampering technology, but the rest of the design is so twentieth century.

A streamlined, fairly standard fighter that’s accessible, yet still very fun to play.

It's the ultimate rental ride that might just bewitch you into purchasing it.

The context-sensitive commentary by Pat Cash and John McEnroe has a casual, often comedic tone that starts off strong but quickly grows monotonous to the point of frustration.

Just like the real thing, it takes a strong constitution to keep from wrapping the seven iron around a tree in Super Swing Golf, but when you do make that one perfect shot it makes it all worth it.

The game’s technical performance feels like a struggle at times on both the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, and after a strong buildup that takes you through cleverly designed missions and well-considered spaces, the game departs from its strengths in an attempt to build dramatic confrontations at the end of the game. It’s not exactly a perfect run for Garrett, but players will still find many things worth taking.

While it's not the next-gen opus fans have been waiting for since Sakaguchi's departure from Square in 2003, Blue Dragon is a familiar, accessible, and comfortable game with outstanding production values.

Much of what it made it great hasn't changed, but the minor extras and improved visuals come at the price of online frustration and gunplay that's undeniably dumbed-down.

SOCOM: Confrontation is a fairly safe bet if all you're looking for is a by-the-numbers, online, tactical shooter. Without a single-player campaign to add some flavor, the game does come off as kind of generic.

With patience and persistence, this nostalgic electronic journey through unplugged gaming's past is a stirring romp that'll undoubtedly rekindle deep rooted passions for tabletop adventure.

As a solo experience it can come off as repetitive and robotic. When played against friends it's an absolute riot.

It may not be Kirby’s most triumphant outing, but Rainbow Curse is still an entertaining ride.

Though it doesn't quite have the wile to ascend to triple-A status, Overlord II whips its subjects into shape with general gameplay improvements and its trademark sense of humor.

There's a surprisingly big game here.

Its title may be a bit of a misnomer, but Revelations is an interesting addition to Lords of Shadow 2. It adds next to nothing to the story, but the clever and more challenging gameplay is worthwhile for anyone wanting to delve deeper into Dracula's castle.

A decent set list of guitar-driven tunes, as well as many of the solid holdover features from the last game, amount to negligible compensation for the lack of meaningful additions.

The game constantly hints at greater things, but never quite reaches those heights. In the end, instead of feeling moved, we felt content. A wonderfully charming game with gorgeous, varied stages and crafty puzzles, but we wish it left more of a lasting mark.

If this is your first time in front of the net, Virtua Tennis 4 will make you glad you picked up a racket. However, if you already mastered your game in the last version, or you're looking for a full-on Kinect-enabled entry, you'll probably want to remain court-side for this one.

The Hot Shots series proves once again that it can serve up addictive, accessible gameplay with its first foray into the realm of tennis. This simple approach is fine, but the lack of modes, online multiplayer, and character customization leave Hot Shots Tennis stuck in the last generation of expectations.

The added content and blatant fan service alone make this a worthwhile budget title, and with so little software being released for Sony’s old machine these days it’s worth a purchase for those who have yet to move on.

Wii Fit Plus adds a fair amount of content for a $20 expansion and includes all the content of the original. If you're looking to mix it up with new activities, there are some winners here, but if you stopped using Wii Fit after the first two weeks, Plus isn't going to get you off the couch for much longer.

The game has a lot going for it when everything is working properly and the handful of new gameplay elements turns Riptide into something legitimately better than its predecessor. In some ways, Dead Island: Riptide feels like a massive content patch, but considering its smarter pacing and greater visual and gameplay variety, it's closer to what the original game probably should have been.

Crackdown is one of those games that sounds like it’s full of good ideas until they’re actually put to use. The role-playing elements are addictive for a while, and it can be fun to play in this sandbox, setting up massive explosions and stunts, but the actual game is seriously lacking in a number of areas, and compared to the other GTA clones on the market, it falls firmly into the middle.

Potential replay value is fairly high.

The best thing about Brave New World is it finally capitalizes on one of Civilization V's main goals: provide multiple and equally viable routes to victory. Culture and diplomacy no longer feel less valuable than science and military might. However, it's almost like you're paying $30 for fixes and alterations. It also doesn't help that the AI is as cryptic as ever. The expansion is no doubt substantial, but it's also paying for sins of the past.

Thanks to its solid fighting system, large roster, and plentiful play modes, Clash of Ninja Revolution III ranks as one of the better brawlers on Wii.

R.U.S.E. succeeds as a solid RTS with a fun focus on deceit, even if it's a little more conventional than we were hoping for.

Lacking some of the magic that made Beatles Rock Band great, Green Day Rock Band by comparison feels like a pedestrian effort.

It is neat to experiment with language to summon your favorite heroes or see surprising effects on the world, and it's at its most fun with a friend brainstorming with you. Still with the awkward action and haphazardly placed puzzles, there's a lack of direction to unleash that potential, making it hard to stay interested for the long-run.

Tenchu: Shadow Assassins gives the Wii’s family-friendly catalogue a welcome streak of red, but an ancient design and trifling motion controls make it an old dog of war. Many aspects of the game simply feel dated, but the series is definitely back to its stealthy fighting form. It’s going to take a lot more for it to achieve a successful contract kill.

With plenty of humor and a substantially long quest, players will be surprised at how enjoyable Overlord can be.

If it were released back on the Saturn as originally planned, Nostalgia probably would have become a cult classic. But there's a reason some of the elements that drive it have gone the way of the dinosaur. If you're looking to experience an RPG from the days of yore, Nostalgia certainly delivers on its namesake.

It's the better of the two downloadable chapters, but you'll need to buy both to fully appreciate it.

While the story can be convoluted and the controls make navigation harder than it should be, it's dark take on death and atmosphere make it a ghost hunt worth taking.

Ultimately, Tiberian Twilight is merely a C&C game by association; not the most terrible of fates for an otherwise solid RTS game, but certainly a bittersweet one for the franchise faithful expecting more.

Quantum of Solace is a passable Bond game and an above-average action game, but it's seriously held back by a lack of style and originality.

While Proteus doesn't evoke a sense of lasting emotional impact, it provides a brief escape to zone out and let your senses soak in its world, whether you're following your nose in discovery or simply relaxing and watching the sunset.

Bound by Flame is far from perfect, but underneath a few rough edges, a memorable journey awaits, defined by an unpredictable storyline, and decisions that have a meaningful impact on the story.

Alien: Isolation is worth experiencing, but at the same time feels like lost potential.

The Darkness still packs plenty of gut appeal, with limbs being sheared and torsos torn asunder. Alas, players cannot sustain themselves on gore alone. Ultimately, the ultra violence will whet your appetite for bloodlust, but fail to slake your thirst for a truly great game.

Until Nintendo manages to nail all aspects of Smash’s multiplayer, it’s just another missed opportunity that has to rely heavily on its solid single player offerings.

When the credits rolled, we didn’t feel relief, but rather disappointment that the adventure was over. There’s a lot to criticize in Tales of Zestiria, but the combat and characters make it enjoyable regardless. Like many good role-playing games, it’s easy to get lost in, whether that means fine-tuning your strategies or watching the various character arcs unfold. At its best, Zestiria reminds us that the Tales series still has life left in it.

One particularly frustrating aspect of the game is the inventory management system.

A respectable roster, goofy but generally fun fighting, and the bridging of two universes with an actual coherent story line makes MK vs DC appealing for casual players. But if you're looking for a true Mortal Kombat sequel or the next super-balanced tournament fighter, this watered-down, crossed-over spin-off isn't your game.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with the Wii version, but the controls don’t make a huge difference in this year-old game, either.

Those who grew up with later installments in the series may lament the lack of an open world, split-screen support, create-skater option, level editor, or moves such as the revert, but the best part of the original games--working toward mastery of particular techniques and levels--remains a compelling reason to revisit the past.

Purposely frustrating, Spelunker HD offers a lot of game to work through, straddling the fine line between good difficulty and rote memorization for an entertaining enough throwback, but one that few will end up finishing. Idle thumbs need not apply.

MLB 2K8 accomplishes what it set out to do--giving players more control in every phase of the game. Unfortunately, the changes come at a price that is hard to accept. In addition to the terribly inconsistent frame rate, evidence is everywhere that the game simply isn’t finished.

Whether it’s the TV parodies or inventive balance board support, Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party is a fresh successor to the original. Yes, Wii mini-game collections have been done to death, but TV Party does it right, and does it differently.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane doesn't make a huge splash, but riding the waves and boosting for shortcuts make for some good, cheap summer thrills.

The inclusion of superstar fighting styles and the struggle submission system is a step in the right direction, but it’s still difficult to recommend Smackdown vs Raw 2008 for a purchase to anyone but the most ardent fan.

Daylight's potency is diminished by repetition and distraction, but when you have the chance to become truly engrossed in its shadows, it can really pull you in and make you jump, especially if you’re wearing a pair of headphones.

Mad Max doesn’t break a new mold for open world games or feel like an epic cinematic experience, but it’s nowhere near being a cheap movie tie-in either.

MLB 2K8 accomplishes what it set out to do--giving players more control in every phase of the game. Unfortunately, the changes come at a price that is hard to accept. In addition to the terribly inconsistent frame rate, evidence is everywhere that the game simply isn’t finished.