With several dozen scenarios on offer, it'll certainly keep you busy if you've got a hankering for transdimensional brain-teasers. It's just too bad that so few of the puzzles end up feeling memorable.

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.

Like everything Disney inspires, it’s the colorful and playful energy that will keep you coming back. It’s just tough to stay excited about waving your arms around for very long.

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

Fiddling with a well-loved formula is frequently a recipe for disaster, but Might and Magic Heroes VI manages to maintain the feel of the series while making the franchise relevant for a new generation.

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.

The fleshed-out story is a nice touch, and the head-to-head canyon races are a hoot, but with so little content it’s hard to recommend as a purchase unless you’re spending your nights on deserted pieces of road looking for some action.

EndWar is a polished, innovative game that does a great job pairing its impressive voice command feature with a focused, fast-paced design.

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.

A game of extreme highs and lows. The fragile atmosphere of fright and wonder that starts the game strong is nearly crushed by idiotic human AI and design choices that don't quite work in practice. Like its roller-coaster chase sequences, it's worth the experience, but it will at times make you want to hurl.

It’s a game torn between two personalities, and it shows. The new Strider is at its best when it’s delivering arcade-style action moments, but sadly these come too infrequently and too late for its own good.

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.

The Gunstringer is short, has some control issues, and isn't especially deep in modes and options, but if you're looking for something substantial to play with your Kinect there aren't many better options.

It will take a capable character about a dozen hours to make it to the bottom of this mega-dungeon, and once you do, the dungeon locks up its doors once more and fortifies its defenses with even more fearsome guardians to match your inflated level and newly-acquired loot.

While F1 2013 is certainly improved over 2012, like the subtle new lighting effects, most of those changes don't make for substantial additions. The move to include features from past eras is a promising step for the future of the series, but carving out half of that content as DLC leaves the remainder as a briefly entertaining pit stop before moving on to business as usual.

ZombiU does deliver a distinctive survival experience, albeit one stymied by awkward meanderings and dull undead. It's not likely you'll die of boredom per se, though the good sections are strung few and far between. More than anything else, ZombiU feels like it was rushed to launch, which is too bad--a little more time in the incubator and it could have been something special.

On its loftiest promise of redefining massively multiplayer combat for good, Tera delivers a stunning new model of action that can't be ignored. Its only flaw is keeping the focus of its ambitions narrow, choosing to play it safe in almost every other regard with the form and function of an otherwise conventional MMO.

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.

The Wii remake of Klonoa smartly left the original's essentials alone, expanding the formula with a vibrant, refreshed look, and a world that not only looks a lot better, but moves more fluidly. With plenty of variety, memorable boss battles, and a charming story, this is one ride you can't afford to miss...even if it is a rather short one.

The gameplay is simple enough for anyone to pick up--making it a great title to play with friends or family—but those who go beyond casual will find it a little too simple. It’s another coat of paint slathered on the LEGO Star Wars template, but at least it’s a pretty color.

One of those rare games ostensibly aimed at youngsters that is likely to sustain adult interest. Its core premise is simple and plays to our most base completist urges, but it never feels cheap for doing so. It may start off slow, but once the experience picks up, it becomes a delightful trip indeed.

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.

Its no-nonsense, pick-up-and-play sensibility is perfectly portable, and for many Final Fantasy fans it’s an excellent stopgap while waiting for the DS remake of Final Fantasy IV.

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.

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.

Draws you into its unfamiliar terrain with a great sense of atmosphere and fosters experimentation with varied tools and fascinating situations. It's a fairly brief excursion, but it's worth the journey.

For the time being we’re prepared to brave the beautiful wastelands of our solar system over and over because the freestyle combat across huge maps can have surprising variations between different play sessions. We’ve had enough wow moments to justify the time and effort to unlock them, and the possibilities of what Bungie could do next in this newly minted galaxy is intriguing based on what we’ve played so far. Destiny has not achieved greatness, yet. It is however, extremely fun to play.

War for Cyberton is a good shooter that'll hold your attention for dozens of hours with its multiplayer thrills, and the campaign is well worth the trek.

It's an intriguing alternative to what has certainly become the high-action norm of the genre. If you can get past its fundamental shortcomings, you'll find that there's indeed something to this fresh, yet flawed experience.

The games repeat core mechanics too often, many solo games go on too long for good alternating multiplayer, and while it’s safe to say the Wii version is going to be the superior one, it doesn’t lend itself to extended play due to the repetition and possible physical strain.

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.

Quotation forthcoming.

NCAA Football 13 is a bit of a disappointment as the franchise faces its inevitable confrontation with the law of diminishing returns. Significant advancements in design or gameplay are few, and the ones that are included are flawed in some way. With last year's game available on the cheap, spending 60 bucks on this will feel a lot like buying tickets from a scalper, but you'll ultimately feel fairly satisfied.

It's kind of like having some philosophical chewing gum to go with your war. You feel like there's something to think about, but it's not going to bother you as you go about your business.

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.

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.

Plain Sight's low-gravity environments and ultra-mobile characters combine to create a relentlessly fast-paced experience. While it's simple to play, its multiplayer nature means you'll always find stiff competition.

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.

Crysis 3, the endcap to the sci-fi shooter trilogy, recaptures the spirit of its source in an all-inclusive package wrought with the best elements from each game. And though it doesn’t necessarily exceed series expectations, it certainly doesn’t betray them, either. The only concession is the compact campaign, but it’s easy to overlook it in light of the game’s accomplishments overall. From its cerebral, open-ended gameplay and lavish visuals to its impressive scale and multiplayer execution, Crysis 3, in all of its careful engineering and design, is certifiably dressed to impress.

The sporadic moments of greatness, when you’re storming enemy walls or have finally brokered a peace agreement, are swallowed by tedium. With patience, your inner imperialist is satisfied as you skillfully cultivate a sprawling empire. It’s too bad you have to put up with so much to get there.

Yet great strides have been made in creating a more realistic-playing game, especially when factoring in the assortment of sliders that can adjust the action even further. There are still areas that could use additional polish, but the overall experience is a step in the right direction.

More options, tighter defense, gameplay sliders, and added variety across play modes would spell the difference between a big leaguer and a candidate for Cooperstown.

This Gunslinger isn't fancy or high tech. It excels where it matters most, with satisfying gunplay in a colorful old west setting that’s satisfying enough to have you forget or overlook the game's faults. If you're looking for a shooter that lets you spit fire into the hearts of your enemies, strap on the spurs and become a Gunslinger yourself.

As likely the last Ratchet and Clank game on the PS3, the series could hardly ask for a better send off.

While the formula is definitely on its last legs, LEGO Batman’s simple fun is engaging and even gets better as you go. The omission of online play is a disappointment, but thanks to a lineup of strong characters, more levels, and gameplay tweaked to fit the Dark Knight’s style, LEGO Batman is the best of the LEGO breed.

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.

While it lacks the unique style and feel of Lost in Nightmares, Desperate Escape is a good expansion in its own right. It's comparable in length to the last addition, clocking in at around an hour to complete on your first run through, and you'll get a few replays out of it. If you're looking for one more sample of Resident Evil 5, this is one escape you should definitely take.

There are some questionable gameplay choices and it can be confusing at times, but the sharp script, solid voice acting, and uncanny atmosphere show an appreciation for the source material like few movie games do.

Despite the downgraded visuals, the Reflex Edition of Modern Warfare lives up to its heritage with a strong campaign and multiplayer that will keep you up until sunrise.

If you're looking for combat, in-depth crafting options, or a true survival simulation, then Miasmata's limitations will likely be disappointments. Yet if you are the type of player who enjoys exploring, cartography, and the danger of being hunted by a creature you cannot defeat, then Miasmata will prove a to be a highly memorable experience that's equal parts exasperating and thrilling.

It's a decent stop-gap if you're waiting for "Burnout 5" to hit stores, but most will be able to milk it for all it’s worth via rental. If the series continues to lumber on like this, its fans will inevitably burn out.

Hell's Highway is a polished, coherent experience that, despite a few setbacks, remains compelling with interesting mechanics and compelling gameplay.

With innovative, fun controls, above average presentation, and more options, modes, and features than you can shake an aluminum bat at, MVP 07 NCAA Baseball on the PlayStation 2 is recommended for any baseball fan.

If you've always been curious about what it'd be like to play a Jensen that's tricked out in a completely different way, The Missing Link offers a blank slate with which to do so. Diehard transhumans will want to unravel The Missing Link without hesitation in any event, but at $15, those less committed to Jensen's cause could stand to wait until the price of the upgrade isn't so steep.

Exploring this recreation of London is a marvel, but the repetitive cycle of taking territory and gathering pointless collectibles quickly wears thin, while gameplay pillars in stealth and combat still feel lacking. It’s the most modern Assassin’s Creed has been, but the Industrial Revolution doesn’t quite bring the series into a new age.

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.

If there’s anything that sticks out the most in Penny Arcade Adventures’ presentation it’s the art, and rightfully so. Mike Krahulic’s trademark style looks great with the in-game portraits, and even better in motion thanks to the game’s bevy of gorgeous animated cutscenes that seamlessly work your avatar into the action.

The biggest element that feels missing is the incredible character interaction from New Order.

The Club is a lot like junk food—it initially tastes good but it won’t leave you satisfied for long.

The impulse to go back in time for inspiration serves this SideScroller well in creating an attractive visual identity. But failure to properly consider what makes shoot'em ups fun, past and present, holds this PixelJunk project back from greatness.

MAG places a strong emphasis on teamwork with an intelligent command structure that brings order to battles of enormous scale. It could use more map variety, better balancing, and ways to decrease player downtime, but overall, it's a strong foundation for an ambitious new franchise.

Players new to the formula may enjoy it for a while, but the uninspired random levels quickly get monotonous even for first-time dungeon crawlers.

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.

It's all clearly aimed at kids, but if you let yourself, you'll find it easy to get sucked right in alongside the young'uns. Toy Story 3 is full of non-corrupting sandbox play that's genuinely addicting. As for as movie games go, you can do much worse.

More than enough material to keep the shadows running long into the future.

Star Fox Command is the odd game that finds itself being better in practice than theory. The distilled elements are fantastic but the inter-complexities don’t gel completely.

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.

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

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimension lacks the variety to sustain its 10-or-so hours of length, and the imagination to truly make good on its multiple-worlds concept. The experience is serviceable enough, but it won't inspire you the way that the best superhero games can.

Garden Warfare was a surprise when it was announced, and you’ll be surprised when you play it what PopCap managed to accomplish. But it can get repetitive when the jokes run dry, and the system designed to combat this is locked behind piles of crumpled tinfoil and stacks of unwanted stickers.

Episode two puts The Wolf Among Us in an awkward place. Telltale shows enough of its hand to interest players in the rest of the story, but the unevenness of this second episode deflates the enthusiasm that first worked so hard to earn. It's difficult to tell how strong the series will become, but right now, it's tough to accept good when you're used to great.

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.

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.

A lot of the fluff that has plagued the series for the last couple years has been stripped away, revealing a game that fast, furious, and focused almost 100 percent on the play experience.

The unique controller is fun for a while, and if nothing else, it might inspire a few players to pick up the real thing. There's some novelty to the peewee experience, and the pared-down gameplay makes a lot of sacrifices, but hockey devotees will find little more than a passing diversion here.

Brutally satisfying.

Like a good sci-fi flick, Infestation is at its best on the very first viewing. Just don't be surprised if that inevitably ends up being the only time.

Evolve may not be as fleshed out as other multiplayer shooters, but it’s still one of those rare games that chases after something different and actually succeeds.

Battlestations: Pacific improves upon almost every facet of the original, offering more of just about everything.

When played in short sessions, Hyrule Warriors is mindless fun that celebrates the rich history of the Zelda series. However, your long term enjoyment of this game boils down to how much you like Dynasty Warriors, or hack-and-slash games in general, and whether or not you care about exuberant amounts of Zelda fan service. It more than delivers on both these points, but if either one of these is a turn off, this likely isn’t the experience for you.

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.

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.

Despite some of the multiplayer technical issues that are still ongoing, Demigod is an absolute blast to play.

It's a decent enough showcase for the hardware, and most of the games are genuinely fun, especially with friends, but it's hard to recommend without reservation when you consider how much it'll all cost.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You might get the impression that Remedy is stringing you along what feels like a never-ending nightmare, but in this case, it's a trip worth taking.

Puzzle Quest Galactrix successfully reproduces the hybrid RPG/puzzle design that made the previous fantasy-themed Challenge of the Warlords so successful. Even if the overall package doesn't quite match the magic of the older game, this is still a great puzzle title that's tough to put down once you've picked it up.

A superb entry in the genre with a ton of great missions and reasons to play again and again. Anyone that enjoys the macabre, or going nose-to-nose with zombies should check it out. Fans will absolutely love it as it's basically a love letter from Capcom to them.

There’s always something to do and it’s always going to yield action, reward or at least someone with a bad case of Tourettes.

The challenges and online leaderboards are a plus for competitive players, and the high-adrenaline experience is a great fit for quick handheld sessions.

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.

Fans of the original can expect a bit more depth and look forward to testing their skills online, but it’s a shame that the single-player campaign amounts to skirmish, and not a war.

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.

If you're the kind of player that can get completely lost in these sorts of open world RPGs, you're going to eat Dragon's Dogma alive. However much its reach exceeds its grasp in certain respects, this ambitious game succeeds in taking the form in an altogether welcome direction--one that does not sacrifice minute-to-minute gameplay on the altar of expansiveness.

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.