Despite new levels, moves, and critters, LocoRoco 2 is very much the same as the first. But when the same is this clever, it's hard to complain.

If you're game for a striking take on the classic side-scrolling adventure, albeit one populated by a cast of urgently self-serious talking animals, you could do much worse than Dust: Elysian Tail.

If you attempt to plow through the goals you’re going to come across a few of them that will get your blood boiling, and there’s an incredibly steep learning curve to overcome. But if you just want to cruise around popping ollies and laying down grinds, or session a spot to squeeze every last line out of it, it’s easily the most realistic representation of the sport yet.

If you’ve never experienced a Pokémon game it’s as good a place to start as any, but if your interest has waned on the series over the years games like Platinum is the reason why.

Its experience is as rich as you've come to expect from a Monster Hunter game, and it adds enough new features to keep veterans engaged. It's still not as newcomer-friendly as we'd like, but once you overcome the initial hurdle, you'll find a lot in here to keep you busy.

For a free-to-play game, World of Tanks offers a surprising wealth of entertainment, although you may feel the need to fork out a bit of cash for some armor upgrades. The best part of this armored adventure is that enjoying a few rounds of battle doesn't take the time commitment required by other MMOs.

No, you won't find volumes of content or progressive new ideas, and the forced touchscreen controls are a minor strategic bungle. However, the well-paced single-player campaign is punctuated by a strong and varied weapon set and online multiplayer that hits an unprecedented level of quality for a handheld.

At a reasonable 800 Microsoft points, Awesomenauts offers a unique and vibrant entry point to the DotA-style game on consoles. With a fun-filled sense of competition and replayability to spare, it's definitely one downloadable multiplayer game worth paying attention to.

At launch, there's not as much on offer compared to other competitive shooters, but there's also never been a Star Wars game that's looked and felt this real before. Despite the lack of battlegrounds, characters, and a story-driven, campaign structure, Star Wars Battlefront is an epic, cinematic experience. If you've felt the force awakening in you this year, let it in.

EA should be commended for creating a console control scheme that works well in real-time strategy games. But that doesn’t mean that this is the best way to play Battle for Middle Earth, or an Xbox 360 game for that matter.

Sure, the graphics are ho-hum and the 3D does little to enhance gameplay, but if you value substance over style, Shadow Wars stands as one of the stars of the 3DS launch.

A game that's about as off the wall as they come, but at a modest 800 Microsoft points, it's one that definitely warrants a spin. Cheeky and challenging in all the right ways, you'll find nothing quite like it amidst today's typical downloadable fare.

It’s all about dropping the clutch, and as unique as the concept is, some lackluster execution keeps this one from reaching the level cap.

The gunplay is tighter and the online features are better, but even as a measurable improvement over the original, Kane & Lynch 2 feels like it's still catching up with what others in the genre have been doing right all along. It isn't quite the blockbuster it intends to be, but it is a competent if unexceptional shooter with unmistakable flavor and interesting online modes.

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.

It's a fighting game that successfully infuses RPG elements to provide depth and variety. It doesn't quite strike a perfect balance, and the lack of true online functionality hurts, but Duodecim delivers on the thrill factor with its cinematic battles.

Mario Tennis Open's single player mode is fun for a few hours, but it will ultimately leave you wanting more. Thankfully, the multiplayer mode with its online functionality will keep you coming back well after you've plowed through the main course.

Resogun lays out all your tools in front of you and has you gunning for a high score simply for the sake of improving your game. You can look at this as a virtue, but even with the addition of online coop, Resogun doesn’t completely explore its promising possibility space. It feels almost inevitable that the game will see some sort of update to offer more ships and more levels in the future.

Within Unplugged's clever title lies an unmistakable truth: it really is Rock Band without the instruments. But though it succeeds at capturing the series' core gameplay, the experience is largely a lonely one, something that runs counter to the jam session vibe established by its predecessors.

If you plan on picking the game up, and do not have a Balance Board, then drop the score a whole point. Yes, it makes that much of a difference. If this is a first glimpse at the future of games utilizing it, then it’s a very bright future indeed.

Toss in a multiplayer mode that’s basically "Unreal Tournament" for fantasy fans.

Much like the original Guitar Hero, Dance Central nails the essence and charm of its ambitious format in its very first act.

As much a swansong for the DS as Kirby Super Star was for the SNES before it, Mass Attack delivers a sweet final tune for those who still haven't traded up to Nintendo's latest portable.

Sega finally appears to have learned from its mistakes. Sonic Generations' thoughtful mishmash of the hedgehog's distinct incarnations delivers the best of both worlds. Though it's a bit on the short side, the fundamentals are undeniably well executed. Sonic hasn't been this good in years.

Joe's sophomore outing certainly delivers on its goal of bridging the precise and methodical nature of platforming with the white-knuckle rush of finishing as fast as possible. If you're curious about this sort of hybrid experience, Joe Danger 2: The Movie is well worth the $15 ticket price.

BattleBlock Theater is a fine little game, and though it has charm and pizazz, it also comes of feeling a bit of a sideshow, just something to pull out on a rainy day for a fast fifteen to buy a new head, play a quick match, or toy around with a level idea. You’ll get your mileage, and scratch that itch to run, jump, and punch with wild abandon, which for fifteen bucks is A-OK.

The only catch is the camera. It’s very tricky to make your character go one way, and your perspective another.

Despite a few weaknesses, 3D Dot Game Heroes combines borrowed ideas with a novel presentation and a good sense of humor to rise above the level of shameless cash-in.

Grinding out levels and looking for items is rarely this rewarding, and it’s obvious that Level 5 knows the depths of the role-player's mind all too well. Now if they could just hire a good writer.

Quotation forthcoming.

Despite the massive size of its world and seemingly endless optional content, Final Fantasy XII feels like an unfinished, conflicted game. In the end, Square Enix’s developers seem to have fallen into the same trap the game’s waiting fans did - while the overall scope and ambition has gotten plenty of attention, the minute-to-minute play experience has been all but ignored.

Yoshi’s Woolly World doesn’t set a new bar for platformers, but it’s a beautiful game that showcases a constant stream of creative ideas. The yarn mechanics fit well with the classic Yoshi gameplay, and it’s a great choice to get all warm and fuzzy with someone this fall.

Part one offered a promising foundation, but lacked a reason to care. This episode puts faces to everything that’s happening and generally moves at a much quicker pace. We can’t wait to see where Hope’s quest for freedom takes her next.

This year may go down as the year of change, and WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 isn’t going to hurt its chances. It’s a solid entry for the series, with more notable innovations and improvements than the last couple games in the series. No molds are broken, but maybe next year it’ll come through with a solid TKO.

It’s a good action-packed RPG that does the Final Fantasy name justice.

These problems don’t dilute Valiant Hearts’ message, however. Rarely has war been examined with so much honesty and earnestness in a videogame. It only makes us yearn for more games that were less about guns and more about the people behind them.

Fireteam Bravo 3 reminds us that the PSP is still capable of a fun and engaging third-person shooter. If you can deal with the controls and don't mind the no-frills level design, you'll find a game worth spending time with, especially with friends.

Its clever writing, nuanced characters, and well-developed system of virtual hijinks and interaction have really stood the test of time.

While Hardline isn’t the Battlefield you may be used to it offers a unique approach that will surely please fans of the genre. The campaign is a big step up from previous entries and while the multiplayer anarchy has been trimmed down, the gameplay in its place is more tactical and intimate.

While there could be some further improvements to the motion controls, presentation, and AI, NHL 2K10 should be considered a must-buy for anyone remotely interested in the sport.

Yakuza 3 brings together enough different gameplay styles that it's more or less pointless to assign it to one particular genre. It's the way it combines these individual parts and invests you in its world that really matters.

Far from a cheap attempt at a slice of the kart-racing pie, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is an exhilarating ride. The intricate and well-thought-out track designs and highly addictive gameplay bring it closer than most to dethroning the almighty Mario Kart.

Minecraft on the Xbox 360 does an admirable job of reproducing the essence of its forbear, and on the strength of the local co-op, it also manages to improve upon it in a small but essential way.

So PES 2015 isn't quite the FIFA killer that many may have hoped, as there are many things that the current iteration of EA's footie series does better. Yet the gap has narrowed significantly with PES 2015, and the hardest part of any sports game -- the gameplay and feel of the sport -- has never been better than with this year's installment.

Anyone who has an appreciation for Final Fantasy music will find much to love here.

It's big, loud, and crazy, and it's clearly not meant to be taken too seriously. But looking past the pageantry, the whole thing is a little too familiar. If you're looking for some innovation, or at the very least, a modest twist in your RTS, you're not going to find it here.

Campo Santo has taken one of the most boring jobs in the world and turned it into an absorbing tale of fear and regret.

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

A couple of the games are rewarding for the long term, but most can be easily whipped into submission in a matter of hours. The visuals are also severely lacking.

A niche title lacking the surface appeal of its party-game predecessors, Rocksmith's not for everyone. Still, there's absolutely nothing else like it for its intended audience. Those who'd rather play than pretend will appreciate the lasting reward of learning riffs from Nirvana's In Bloom far more than the shallow gratification that comes with pressing colored plastic buttons to a Top 40 hit.

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

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.

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.

Tri-ace has made an admirable effort with Last Hope, but the game ultimately just isn't capable of standing out amongst the other giants in the genre. It's enjoyable, but in a way more reminiscent of recent Square-Enix games than its classics. It's not the most epic adventure, but if you seek rich combat experiences in your RPGs, Last Hope certainly delivers.

The anything-is-a-weapon aesthetic is still ace, but the combat system is too unwieldy when tackling multiple foes. It’s a game of ups and downs, but horror fans will be more than satisfied with its bleak and gloomy disposition.

Aside from some issues with its online requirements, bugs, and restrictions on city size, it's still a satisfying and addicting simulator that will grant dozens of hours of entertainment with one well-designed city alone. It's best played with friends, but there's still plenty of fun in store for those who go it alone, and the work Maxis has done here proves that the beloved franchise can still hold its own in a gaming world vastly different from its first appearance in 1989.

Thanks mainly to the simplified economy and streamlined controls, Supreme Commander 2 evades the stigma associated with the RTS genre on consoles, providing more evidence that real-time strategy games can not only work outside the PC, but potentially flourish as well.

Brimming with fan-service, Back to the Future tickles the funny bone more than it taxes the brain, but we're guessing fans of the time-traveling film trilogy wouldn't want it any other way.

There are a few slight tweaks here and there, and the online functionality is surprisingly robust, but otherwise, this game could have been done on the Game Boy Advance with minimal issues. At the same time, there's more content on this card than four typical DS games combined so you're definitely getting your money's worth.

Child of Light may not be the biggest game this year, but sometimes it’s the smallest things that shine the brightest.

The Vita crossover feature allows for almost seamless alternations between portable and console gameplay; in fact, the lush visuals of Thieves in Times tend to fare better on the Vita. Yet the most satisfying achievement of Thieves in Time is that this isn’t a mere nostalgia trip like 2010’s Sly Collection; with Thieves in Time, Sanzaru has proven that there’s never been a better time to join forces with Sly and his merry band.

The Last Remnant is a hard game to judge. A person's enjoyment of it will be directly related to how much they can tolerate persistent graphical issues. If you can get past it, there's a lot to enjoy in the smart design decisions and its unique battle system.

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.

The right combination of gameplay elements and design decisions make Kane and Lynch easy to recommend to crime junkies and anyone who enjoys a little therapeutic videogame violence. A well-executed plot really makes the game, while the multiplayer additions add replay value and variety.

Depending on what you want from Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition you’ll either be underwhelmed or overjoyed. Maybe both. You can see exactly where improvements have been made, and where the series still needs to grow. We’re disappointed in the lack of diversity from the available Playsets, but there is still a ridiculous amount of stuff to collect, and it’s now more accessible, customizable, and fun than ever.

At 10 dollars, Trials of St. Lucia may be a little steep, but it gives Dante a shot of much-needed replayability. With online co-op, a seemingly-enthusiastic community, and a suite of solid online features, the original game suddenly feels like it has some legs.

An expansive downloadable game that's bursting with stuff to do. It's disappointing that cheap mini games and toys are the only incentives for perfecting courses, but even so, the game provides a ton of variety and a consistent level of challenge. Like other great puzzlers on handheld platforms, Minis on the Move will have you searching for your 3DS charger before you know it.

The real enjoyment in Luftrausers doesn’t really come from experimenting, it’s more about finding the right fit. It’s really about performance, not options, and the game’s longevity and value come from excellent tuning and feedback. You launch, then you thread the needle, push the envelope, curse your foes, and go out in a blaze of glory.

Unity is an attempt to get back to the basics of stealth-action, and there are a lot of subtle upgrades that make the formula feel freshly tailored for this new generation. This is an extremely ambitious, beautiful game that you can spend a lot of time with. Unfortunately, system performance may vary substantially, Arno’s story is a bit underwhelming, and if you don’t have a few patriots to join you in battle the co-op missions won’t impress.

Il-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey delivers a top notch flight sim experience that manages to remain accessible thanks to its scalable controls. Aside from a few bumps in the air, it has certainly earned its wings.

Though Gatling Gears adheres unerringly to the dual-stick formula, it really nails the execution. This is a lengthy endeavor that you'll want to come back to again and again.

Just Cause 2 is an amazing world rich with gameplay possibilities with a merely decent game tacked onto it.

The mission objectives are mundane, but all the little secrets littered throughout give it a sense of discover that Harry Potter games have failed to deliver in the past. If you’re a diehard Potter fan then don’t think twice about picking it up, and action gamers will find a lot to like as well.

Sticker Star exhibits some growing pains, but the new direction pays off in spite of them. The lack of traditional RPG elements will take time to adjust to, but once you've cleared the hurdle, you're rewarded with a solid game that hones in on its clever puzzles and refined battle system to deliver an experience that simultaneously comforting and novel.

Saints Row 2 is undeniably rough around the edges, blatant with its recycling, and exhilarating in its craziness. It's a game that your brain knows has problems, but your heart doesn't care.

FlatOut 2 is one of the most chaotic racing games ever made. Whether you're playing on or offline, you'll be lucky if you can last two minutes on the track without eating twisted metal.

It's a very challenging experience that rewards players with the desire and endurance to reach the end. That being said, the difficulty and complex battle system will definitely turn off those who aren't accustomed to a game that pushes back so often.

There are a few slight tweaks here and there, and the online functionality is surprisingly robust, but otherwise, this game could have been done on the Game Boy Advance with minimal issues. At the same time, there's more content on this card than four typical DS games combined so you're definitely getting your money's worth.

For the mouse-and-keyboard crowd, this re-release will serve as little more than a target for negative comparison to the original. However, if gamepads serve as your peripheral of choice, this $20 download is an easy recommendation.

Like its predecessor, Fistful of Cake is addicting on a fundamental level, and downright excellent under the right circumstances.

If you can get into the bizarre and colorful candy-filled vibe, and you enjoy games that give you the freedom to play as you like, you’ll definitely be able to party with Viva Pinata.

Open Tee was and is a fantastic game, and it’s hard to complain about being able to tee off online with that very same feel.

Fluffy, entertaining, and conceptually novel from start to finish, Rocket Slime is one of the best games on the Nintendo DS, and fills an action-adventure void on the system.

The novelty of the series may be gone, but its core stands as a good game idea. It won’t win any beauty pageants, but a big enough Katamari could win a county fair.

Rainbow Six siege may not be the Rainbow game fans remember, but it lays a solid foundation for the future. Matches are full of constant tension and meaningful kills. Its reliance on having a dedicated group might be off-putting for some, but the heavy emphasis on teamwork is a refreshing focus.

In spite of its few faults and a curious lack of a competitive multiplayer element, Payday: The Heist manages a fun and fresh cooperative experience that duly pays tribute to a genre rarely seen in games.

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.

With its level of variety and solid grasp of the fundamentals, it's more than worth its price. It may not be doing anything new, but what it does do, it does quite well.

Technical frustrations aside, we’re glad that this piece of gaming history is finally back for anyone to try. With its oddly imaginative world and characters brimming with personality, Grim Fandango is absolutely worth this second lease on life.

The mission objectives are mundane, but all the little secrets littered throughout give it a sense of discover that Harry Potter games have failed to deliver in the past. If you’re a diehard Potter fan then don’t think twice about picking it up, and action gamers will find a lot to like as well.

The right combination of gameplay elements and design decisions make Kane and Lynch easy to recommend to crime junkies and anyone who enjoys a little therapeutic videogame violence. A well-executed plot really makes the game, while the multiplayer additions add replay value and variety.

There isn't much out there quite like Zone of the Enders. The first game is the weaker of the two, serving as lukewarm appetizer for the main course. The Second Runner, though, with all its refinements and polished battle system, is certainly worth the price of admission.

The game may not transcend its genre, but it’s a great reminder of why so many us fell in love with role-playing games in the first place.

Even so, “Cry Wolf” is the end to a story worth experiencing. While not every episode has lived up to its potential, the season as a whole has left us with a world that we’re hesitant to leave behind.

It keeps you laughing with the sheer absurdity of its lead character, the not-so-subtle references, and fumbling physical comedy that's made all the more potent through your participation. Like a plate of sushi, it might seem a bit pricey for what you get, but it's worth paying a small premium for a fresh catch.

A charming and enjoyable package. The variety of levels and modes will keep you busy for hours, and the online play provides much in the way of chaotic fun.

Mothership Zeta is a wild and humorous mission for Fallout 3 fans, but it lacks the breadth of Point Lookout or Broken Steel. It's a little disappointing as a final chapter, but players looking to explore the farthest fringes of the Fallout universe will have a blast.

While Street Fighter 2 Hyper Fighting is more of a mixed bag than most people wanted or expected, when it delivers, it delivers in spades.