The feature in Bloodforge that lets you create and send online challenges to friends stands out as a great idea, but given all the other ways that the game falters, it's not enough.

Keeping pace with the infectious, obstacle-based hook that made the original a hit while boldly charting new ground with tuned up features and an ambitious outdoor angle, Trials Evolution brings the breadth of its namesake to bear in a well-equipped and enthusiastically realized sequel that fans of the original shouldn't pass up. When it comes to providing an endless loop of frustration, fun, and harebrained antics on wheels, you'll find few other stunt racers quite as hopelessly addicting as this.

Legend of Grimrock is an excellent throwback to a genre that seemed in danger of dying out, and with the promise of future dungeons and a level editor to extend the replay value, it comes highly recommended for those looking for something a bit more focused, more challenging, and more atmospheric than the typical RPG. If you've been wishing for a game that stimulates your gray matter as much as your bloodlust, you'll find Grimrock offers a mountain's worth of enjoyment at a molehill's price.

The Xbox 360 version has some rough edges, but these annoyances aren't significant enough to sully the experience. The Witcher 2 is a beauty to behold with a rich, involving fiction framing strategic and challenging combat. Most of all, its mature implementation of morality, choice, and consequence is a step forward that more games would be wise to follow.

It's not for players who demand immediate gratification from their games, but those who appreciate the simple pleasure of overcoming challenges within a team environment will find a lot to like. It's deep, customizable, and provides a lot of latitude for different play styles.

Keenly channeling the wit and spirit of a bygone age while keeping its stubby little feet firmly planted in the present, Fez is a remarkable little gem of a game that truly deserves the attention it's been given in its long maturation period.

If this if your first contact with this unique take on a beloved genre, you'll find several hours' worth of fast-paced strategy waiting for you in Anomaly's agreeable warzone.

Skullgirls uses its personality and a masterful execution of the genre to punch well above its weight as a $15 downloadable upstart. Even if it isn't quite pound-for-pound on par with the giants of the genre, it's bold enough to aim for the top and accomplished enough to put up one heck of a fight.

Many of the individual games exhibit occasional flashes of brilliance, and the absurdity of the Galactic Dance Off bears witnessing at least once. We just can't recommend picking up the entire package in order to do so.

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.

Closure's grip of levels aren't so devious that you won't exhaust them in a few play sessions, but there are more than enough secrets for those willing to repeatedly wade into the shadows. Puzzle aficionados who like their "eureka" moments mixed with a splash of action will devour this shadowy gem.

A top-shelf effort that spiffs up the series with touched up visuals and plenty of extras. Having all three games together in a collection like this is a golden opportunity for veterans to get reacquainted with Dante. And if you've somehow missed out on Devil May Cry, then this is your chance to finally experience a trilogy that played a large part in paving a new road for action games.

A disappointment. Not for the specific titles included, mind you, but rather for the sloppy handling and questionable changes associated with the conversions. The inconsistent presentation, compromises to the original developer's vision, and lack of any interesting bonus features make this compilation's $40 price even more unnerving than its games.

While the presentation could still use work, the tweaks to the play mechanics add a welcome layer of depth in how you approach and execute shots. More importantly, it strikes the right balance between easy to learn and hard to master that's been conspicuously absent from earlier entries in the long-running series.

There's been a lot of talk lately about how Japanese RPGs are fading into irrelevancy with their increasingly linear designs, but Xenoblade delivers a world where you're free to explore at your own pace that frequently entices you to indulge in its many extracurricular activities. This is easily one of the best games on the Wii.

A rare shoot 'em up that successfully draws in the entire spectrum of players, and it's hard to get too frustrated with the frequent deaths you'll suffer in arcade mode when it's all wrapped breathtaking in a presentation that swings effortlessly from 2D to 3D perspectives. Above all, it's simply fun.

A step in the wrong direction for the series. Tension and atmosphere take a back seat to cheap, impotent scares and tedious combat encounters.

If you want substantially new play options and features, then MLB 12 may come as a disappointment, particularly if you aren't interested in playing the game online. Yet if you place a higher value on the quality of the on-field action, then MLB 12's attention to detail will enthrall and entertain.

Stumbles a bit due to its uncompromising control scheme that puts just a few too many hurdles in the way of your enjoyment. Largely, though, Pit's comeback is a successful one.

Small actions like switching menus can cause disproportionately long load times, and the game suffers frequent mission-killing bugs. Moody music, mixing in piano with synth, while the voice actors do their best with the script, trying their best to self-distinguish.

Like clockwork, Ridge Racer is sliding in for the launch of a new PlayStation. Rather than delivering a fast-paced payload, this Vita racer is here just to take your money and run.

There's fun here, but it comes with some unavoidable roughness. It's tough to get excited about a zombie game that's only decent, but whether it's Yakuza's special history or inimitable blend of drama and absurdity, there's something here that might be worth biting into.

In spite of its novel class-based combat and varied multiplayer, Operation Raccoon City can't shake its one-note campaign and fundamental mechanical problems.

As it stands, these blades still need a lot more sharpening.

As the first game in the series since Itagaki's departure, it's kinder, gentler, lighter, and a little less interesting.

Too bad the game doesn't offer much variety outside of its weirdo flea market.

Major League Baseball 2K12 could desperately use a new engine and some more polish to smooth out the rough edges, as the batter-pitcher interface, commentary, and MLB Today mode are all solid. There are simply not enough changes or fixes to make it worth paying full price this year, though. It seems that each time this series appears to be heading towards home, it trips on third base and stumbles to the ground.

There's no mistaking that Tales of Graces was originally released on the Wii, and it seems that little effort was made to bring it up to PS3 standards.

An over-reliance on random chance over strategy can quickly derail the experience when things go awry at the worst possible time, but when matches come together with the right balance, Mario Party 9 does deliver the fun this exuberant series is known for.

A successful reboot that captures the spirit of street soccer with realistic tricks requiring some skill and strategy to pull off. While it comes up a bit short in breadth when compared to other sports franchises, and the gameplay could use some fine tuning, the World Tour mode and addicting fundamentals make this Street a welcome detour from more stodgy sports games.

Dungeon Hunter does offer a few moments of fun, but they're eclipsed by painful repetition and clumsy design.

The gameplay is sound at its core, but suspect AI, plodding boss fights, and a heavy-handed plot all stand out as flaws that should have been eliminated before mass production. As is, this interesting prototype could be worth examining--just don't expect it to attain peak performance.

Like its scant narrative backbone and starkly drawn world, I Am Alive is just evocative enough to keep you playing for the five or so hours it lasts. You'll come away with the feeling that what good ideas it has are mere specters of a more ambitious past. That said, few games are willing to go to so dark a place as Haventon.

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.

Improves many of the series' individual elements, and provides finality to a saga in which numbers of us have invested dozens of hours. But despite this success, it's unable to reward the effort and investment of players in the same way previous games did. Still, it handles its subject matter in a way that invites you to care, and the addition of multiplayer does add another dimension to the game. When all has been said and done, there's a very good chance that you'll feel something.

Aside from the original PS2 release, this is easily the worst iteration of Snake Eater. The lack of extras, the frustrating controls, and the overall performance issues hold it back from being one of the premier third-party games for the 3DS. Don't be hypnotized by this snake's gaze--this is far from the optimal way to experience this classic.

It has little to offer fighting game fans bridled with brand fatigue and even less to Tekken players still wary of polarizing mechanics and the tricky jump to 2D. But in terms of keeping pace with innovation and bringing something new to the table, Street Fighter x Tekken duly makes the effort worth the while.

The high-quality presentation, touch features, and substantial cache of content that includes ad-hock co-op and an addictive Conquest mode should please repeat customers and perhaps even bring a few newcomers to the battlefield.

Manipulating your character through each stage feels tight and responsive with the Vita's analog stick, making it possible to make mid-air adjustments and pixel-perfect jumps. The game also looks just as good as it did on consoles, retaining its smooth frame rate and crisp 2D animations.

Journey's DNA consists of two intertwining strands: mystery and beauty. These two ideals weave together a wordless experience that manages to feel both familiar and foreign, which is no small feat. While this excursion through the sands may be just a brief stopover from the glut and glitz of other games' well-stocked campaigns and multiplayer suites, Journey still delivers a complete package with the artistic vision intact.

From the seamless online options that encourage you to compete to the graphics engine that ensures a level playing field, the entire game has been built to maximize play. The result is a game that's just flat-out fun. The more interesting moments tend to be fleeting and the single-player is anemic, but it's a great mix of old and new that will satisfy both fans of the series and first-time rippers.

It'd be easy to dismiss Sigma Plus as another attempt to cash-in on an aging game, but those who've never experienced it--or even seasoned fiend-slayers looking for a portable fight--should definitely consider picking up the sword.

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.

With its high-production values, there's nothing else like it. Provided you don't approach Asura's Wrath as you would a typical game, you won't be disappointed.

Compared to other multiplayer shooters flooding the market, Gotham City Imposters may not offer the same breadth of game modes and map content, but it certainly stands out thanks to a great sense of self-referential humor and some oddball gadgetry. Even when the chuckles subside, the madcap action stands strong on its own.

World Invitational may not possess the sheer system-selling appeal of an Uncharted: Golden Abyss, but it's still a solid, packed launch game that old hands as well as rookies should consider grabbing alongside their Vitas.

Online play holds up admirably to the lobby features and netcode standards of the original, and dedicated pad players should find little trouble adjusting their links, loops, and launchers to the Vita's crisp controls.

Escape Plan's puzzles are charming and inventive, and it's smartly designed to be playable in short spurts.

Offers enough memorable moments and entertainment value to be worth its $15 price point.

It's hard not to get lost in Rhythm Heaven Fever's charming and addictive gameplay. Whether it's the relaxing bass hits of a boy kicking away balls on a date or a rockin' interview with a rambunctious wrestler, these games will undoubtedly warrant repeated plays. We got a fever, and the only prescription is more Rhythm Heaven.

A visual presentation that looks more PSP than Vita, doesn't help matters. It makes a killer first impression-and certainly earns points for offering something different on launch day-but such limited appeal may not be enough to send gamers to Hell.

Syndicate has a lot of ideas, but seems unwilling to let some of them out of the bag, instead parading them around at key moments, while some mechanics, like running through weak walls, never amounting to much.

Touch My Katamari does little to break the mold, but with its odd humor and addictive simplicity, it's a great game to have on the go. Plus, at $30, it's one of the more reasonably-priced Vita launch games.

Just like the Vita itself, Lumines Electronic Symphony is slick and at times irresistible, and well worth experiencing for yourself. Still, we can't help but feel that the $40 price is a tad steep for what it offers. Unless you absolutely can't wait to participate in this carnival of light, it's probably wise to wait until the price settles a bit.

The controls suit the system, with a surprisingly smart option to touch on-screen icons to turn the camera toward potential threats. The stealth play and covert killing is fast and satisfying but when blades clash, things can get awkward. You're eventually given a reversal move can quickly end fights with weaker enemies, but there's no running away from certain fated confrontations, which are almost always prolonged and clumsy.

With so much emphasis on sharing, the fact that there's only local multiplayer is frankly puzzling. More time should have been spent on what matters instead of fun gimmicks to promote hardware functionality.

The ability to skip challenges after failing multiple times and an inconsistent driver assist option does nothing to make the game accessible to anyone that lacks serious dedication.

Like an old muscle car, Twisted Metal can be a bit rough around the edges, but once you get the engine warmed up, you can get a lot out of it. The more you invest, the more it gives, providing a fulfilling sense of mayhem whether you're playing online or with friends at home.

Feels like it's held back by the need to incorporate the different features of the Vita, ultimately over complicating a package that would have benefited from some simplification.

A powerful tech demo for the PlayStation Vita, but it's also an engaging game that's a blast to play in spurts. Touch screen use is a little heavy-handed and it's missing those "wow" moments we're used to getting from the franchise, but it's a solid action adventure with production values strong enough to quell any sense of system buyer's remorse.

Longtime fans may appreciate the engorged roster and Pride rule set, but others may not find the extra purchase, or year long break, justifiable by any other regard. Bear no reservations if you're looking for another year of top notch brawling in the octagon, but if it's evolution you're looking for, Undisputed doesn't deliver.

A significant improvement over its predecessor, and one that proves there are still a few developers out there willing to learn from their mistakes.

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.

Though it leans a little too heavily on well-trod genre conventions, there's no denying that Reckoning has a whole lot to offer in terms of sheer breadth. Similarly, though the challenge tapers off dramatically toward the end, its combat is welcoming, gratifying, and hypnotic.

Like flowers in a trash dump, the fragrance of NeverDead's high points is overpowered by the tons of garbage surrounding them. Even the most worthwhile moments are awkwardly handled, and there's nothing fun or helpful about having your body torn apart over and over again.

What you have here is a full-featured Resident Evil release squeezed down onto the 3DS. It sacrifices little due to the hardware, with its most glaring faults a result of development decisions. The meaty campaign is short on scares, but well-designed and engaging, while the raid mode will sink its claws into you after just a couple missions. While tip-toeing the line between old series staples and its latest evolutions, Resident Evil: Revelations proves that what's old can be new again.

Soul Calibur V enjoys its triumphs, most notably the strong online element, as well as its shortfalls, such as the flat story and relative dearth of extra content. In spite of its mostly positive gameplay tweaks, though, it's in no real danger of reinventing the wheel. That's OK with us. In this fifth installment, Soul Calibur is as easy to enjoy as it ever was, and it brings with it enough new stuff to more than justify its existence.

Unequivocally better than the original in almost every single way, XIII-2 presents a rehabilitated spin on one of the most polarizing Square-Enix releases in recent years, as well as a promising way forward for the franchise. It may not be enough to undo what's already been done, but for what it's worth, XIII-2 may just change your mind about the future.

Amy is both a throwback and a runt, with meager cult appeal. The low price point will bait dedicated horror enthusiasts tired of Resident Evil and Dead Space's recent action motifs, but the horror here comes from the code, not the context.

With NFL Blitz 2012 you're going to get almost exactly what you expect…minus the price tag. There are more modes than anticipated, but the gameplay never strays from the formula. Save for updated rosters and teams, there's not much point in replacing your legacy copy of the game, but for newcomers it's an impressively fun package for a small price.

Star Wars: The Old Republic's unabashed resampling of the prevailing MMO model offers a valid and in many ways more approachable alternative to Blizzard's juggernaut. It's a great starting point for those curious about the genre, as well as a refreshing change of pace for seasoned MMO veterans.

Batman: Arkham City Lockdown tries to capture the spirit of its triple-A counterpart, but it only succeeds on a superficial level. At six dollars, the game's short length and repetitive gameplay will be palatable only to the most obsessed members of the cape and cowl cult.

There's a lot of strategy to explore in Fortune Street, but it can drag on with games averaging two hours long, and it's a bit dull even if you like this sort of thing. In the right circumstances, it can be rewarding, but you really need a group of like-minded friends to make it worth your while.

Trine 2 may not offer many changes over its predecessor and its campaign only yields about six hours of gameplay, but this new release is more refined, more beautiful, and more fun. It's a steal at $15, and if you missed this indie gem the first time around, Trine 2 provides a phenomenal introduction to the series that won't disappoint.

As with the first game, Infinity Blade 2 expertly plays to the iOS platform's strengths, rendering many, if not all, of its contemporaries in sharp relief. Future updates promise an augmented game experience that includes multiplayer raid-style encounters called Clashmobs, but for the present, this aspirant of the app store is more than equipped to deliver a deep and satisfying experience sure to bleed into multiple lifetimes.

Clocking in at just two and a half hours, Raam's Shadow is quite brief for its $15 price tag. The intense tried-and-true gameplay is there and it has some fun moments, but the story feels insignificant, and it's over before you know it.

In the end, Minecraft is what you make of it, and that's the beauty of the game. Whether you want to spend hours at a time experimenting with digital Lego or playing a hack-and-slash version of Wolfenstein 3D, Mojang's unique achievement allows you to do either and more. While it still has some pixilated edges that leave it feeling unfinished, few games in recent years have done so well with such a promising concept and offered so many opportunities for true exploration.

Despite decent production values and three distinct play modes, The Adventures of Tintin is a disappointment for those expecting a grand, absorbing adventure in the spirit of Indiana Jones. The final product feels rushed.

Past the novelty of seeing the duo together in another game, Mario & Sonic's latest Olympic outing has little going for it in general. The mini-games suffer from dated controls at a point in the Wii's life where MotionPlus has become the standard, and with so many superior collections out there, this one's just plain hard to recommend.

The developers took a gamble in revamping their wrestling series, but it didn't quite pay off. Fans will love the expansive roster, variety of match options, extensive customization features, and the assortment of painful looking strikes, signature moves, and submissions. Yet the imprecise reversal system, online issues, and cheap A.I. will irritate everyone else.

Nintendo hasn't recreated the wheel with Mario Kart 7, but the time spent in the garage has paid huge dividends. With a console-worthy list of modes and options, brand new gameplay paradigms, the best track roster in series history, and new customization depth to plumb, it certainly makes a case to be the best Mario Kart yet. It doesn't turn kart racing on its end, but it finds a near-perfect medium of similarity and discovery as it walks the fine line of risk and reward without spinning out.

Disneyland Adventures succeeds in recreating a reasonable facsimile of the Disneyland experience. The open world is accurate enough to be passed off as an interactive tour of the park and there are some genuine treats in its collection of mini-games.

King of Fighters XIII accomplishes the difficult task of redeeming a previously failed attempt at revitalizing the franchise. Everything that makes a great fighting game, from an interesting and balanced cast to well-conceived mechanics and visual flair, are here in abundance.

King of Fighters XIII accomplishes the difficult task of redeeming a previously failed attempt at revitalizing the franchise. Everything that makes a great fighting game, from an interesting and balanced cast to well-conceived mechanics and visual flair, are here in abundance.

Those who love the Lego license or just need a fresh Potter fix are in for a bewitching good time.

At its matinee price of $40, Tekken Hybrid definitely isn't a shabby deal in the end.

It's all combat, all the time, with the absence of exploration, puzzles, or a free range of movement making the game feel a bit too basic for its 40 dollar price tag. Still, decent production values and responsive controls make Medieval Moves one of the better motion titles on the system, offering plenty of action but little in the way of interesting challenges or variety. It's fun, but after a few repetitive play sessions, you're going to want to rest those weary bones.

Though it expertly renovates one of the defining campaigns of the console FPS, Halo: Anniversary is perhaps less successful at being a tribute, woefully omitting a large part of what made the series a success on top of somehow forgetting about party favors along the way. In the end, Anniversary comes a bit underdressed to its own celebration, but if you've got a soft spot for the Chief or have yet to experience Halo in its original form, now would be a great time to start the fight.

Need for Speed: The Run falters with its high-profile but underdeveloped plot as well as some awkward design choices. However, it overcomes these potholes with courses that are a blast to drive and simple multiplayer that keeps you hooked in.

The Run falters with its high-profile but underdeveloped plot as well as some awkward design choices. However, it overcomes these potholes with courses that are a blast to drive and simple multiplayer that keeps you hooked in.

Still, in the end, it's all about the fighting. It was already good, and while it's not a dramatic shift, having more options only makes the game better. Whether it completely lives up to its title or not, this is the definitive version of MvC3, at least for now. Whether you own the original game or not, it's got a lot to offer.

The engine is a bit long in the tooth and some of the content isn't entirely worth exploring, but if you're looking for an unforgettable top shelf action/adventure, heed the creed.

Stripped bare of accessories, its all-business approach will thrill some and frustrate others. Less whimsical and more weighty, it proves that clever level design and tight gameplay trump all, and perhaps most importantly, that motion gaming can truly be for everyone.

Super Mario 3D Land proves that gaming's most enduring mascot is also its most adaptable.

Shining novelties fueled by base guffaws quickly devolve into gimmicks. No one is expecting War and Peace to play out in the streets of Stilwater. What you should reasonably expect, and what Saints Row: The Third fails to deliver, is a clever Mad Magazine parody, something more than a middle school mentality expressed with a high budget. What you get is a sandbox game that's fun for a spell, but one that you'll outgrow pretty fast.

With platformers enjoying a big resurgence in the last few years, it makes sense that Rayman: Origins has an anachronistic feel. Challenging levels, mosquito breaks, amusing multiplayer, and a hard-as-nails reward for perfectionists assures its place in the platformer pantheon. It just lacks a little of the sparkle that could've helped battle the fatigue of coaxing out every last lum.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is extremely ambitious, and at its core, extremely successful. While overreaches in certain areas, it has much to offer in terms of freedom and volume of content. When you look back on the experience, it's not the rough spots that'll stand out, but the broad, heroic feeling of being the powerful and change-affecting center of a richly constructed world.

If it weren't for the omission of the original Metal Gear Solid, this would probably be the prototype HD collection that all publishers should aspire to emulate. These games have withstood the test of time, and all of the enhancements and extras ensure these are the definitive versions. If you passed on these games before, there's no excuse this time.