The increased emphasis on weapons is clearly the right move for Resistance 3. Trying out different guns and upgrading each is a blast, and there are some fun surprises as the game goes on. Despite some neat boosters and abilities, the multiplayer doesn't do too much to stand out, but the variety and pacing of the campaign makes it the best in the series so far.

Soloists might enjoy a long weekend on Dead Island, but this isn't a game for the "separate vacations" crowd. The combination of twitch action with an MMO's girth minus the grind cements the game as co-op classic. There's some brain-dead repetition as you down brain eaters, but the rising challenge and resource management means you'll always be mindful of your tasks.

Age of Empires Online's jaunt across the ancient world serves as a robust and enjoyable free introduction to the real-time strategy genre, but if you're willing to plunk out $20 to $100 dollars for a complete strategy experience, you'll find much better options elsewhere.

The inclusion of Ghost of Sparta makes this package a "must buy" for anyone seeking a great action game, particularly those who missed it on PSP.

When you start building a game on such an impressive foundation you're guaranteed to have a quality product in the end, but the longer you play it the more the issues become bothersome. Just like the NFL rookie class of 2011, it should have spent a little more time in training camp.

When you start building a game on such an impressive foundation you're guaranteed to have a quality product in the end, but the longer you play it the more the issues become bothersome. Just like the NFL rookie class of 2011, it should have spent a little more time in training camp.

A careful, confident treatment of a classic game that's had more influence than it's had time in the spotlight. If you're interested in the history or practice of fighting games, this is a great chance to pick up a fighter that's paid its dues and proved its worth.

Offers a good deal of mischief to get into, and it's all backed up by a great stealth system and a solid shooting game. With its variable story, as well as how it encourages you to alter your approach to obstacles, it's also a game that rewards multiple playthroughs. The future is bleak and at times ugly, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Toy Soldiers marshals no small amount of personality and polish, and the thoughtful and detailed presentation never misses its mark as it lampoons and celebrates its goofy what-if 80's scenario.

But at the opening price of 20 bucks, players craving something genuinely different will definitely find it in E.Y.E. Divine Cybermancy, without breaking the bank.

Many games aspire toward aesthetic sophistication, but only a precious few manage to emerge as great game in the process. El Shaddai achieves this, and it leaves you smitten and awestruck. It's both simple to grasp and rich enough to keep you coming back for more. Those seeking something refreshingly different will be well rewarded by this rare and original experience.

It just never offers more than a middling gameplay experience for its price. That on its own might satisfy the casual freebooters, but when you couple that mediocrity with abysmal NPC pathing, inexplicable bouts of lag, and the game's tendency to crash at key moments, even they may find themselves tossing this one down in Davy Jones' locker for good.

The bright colors and karate chops may be enticing, but this is one impulse buy you can safely pass on.

Legacy is full of good intentions, but the final presentation feels bland and rushed.

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.

Worse than Bound in Blood in every way, and you'll have more fun laughing at its missteps than anything else.

A number of fun-halting flaws ultimately make for an experience that's far less polished than the protagonist's shiny shield.

By delivering a sandbox environment that's imaginative and surprising, New World Blues delivers on the overall promise of the Fallout series. But by doing so with such delight and gusto, it goes above and beyond, resulting in the finest expansion the series has seen yet.

Despite the simple end goal, the game is filled with vagaries resulting from an unclear interface and a perplexing process for setting waypoints. That turns the masked men's path finding into a grueling, aggravating operation as they stop within sight of their goal for no apparent reason. Still, seeing how all the elements react to one another is captivating.

Quite unlike anything else out there. It's a game that pushes back and challenges you to think on your feet. If the confounding puzzles don't hook you, the branching, variable story, and the steamy, nightmarish vibe certainly will.

Capable and shaped to its purpose, Bastion proves a well-crafted and entertaining experience. Easily justifying its $15 price tag, this downloadable game offers a simple but complete package that's charming, playable, and worthwhile.

EA's Harry Potter series unceremoniously bows out in this final game. While the previous games were also disappointments, this one sinks even lower to full-on cash-in status. What you're left with is a confused mess parading around as a barely-competent third-person shooter.

Like a fifth-year senior, NCAA Football 12 relies on its experience more than improving its game. With minimal improvements where it matters most, it doesn't have the benefit of updated rosters of real players to help its case. It's undoubtedly the best game in the series to date, but when you can pick up last year's game for a fraction of the cost, it's difficult to recommend at full price.

Some players may get frustrated with the level of trial and error, but if you're up to the challenge, Ms. Splosion Man is a satisfying pursuit of timing and control with an ending that's well worth the effort.

Insect Armageddon can be enjoyed in short intervals with friends, but don't expect anything more than a B-list multiplayer rental. It's a generic shooter that brings nothing new to the table, and there are far better options in the backlog to cure your summer boredom.

While the mesmerizing patterns and fast-paced combos provide brief bursts of excitement, Galaga Legions DX lacks the challenge and variety needed to maintain interest beyond a single play-through.

Trenched is doubtlessly a tower defense game, just one that falls further from the tree than most. Though it takes a few missteps, particularly the tedious scrap collection and the lack of a survival mode, it's ultimately another notch in Double Fine's belt.

Sure, the game has some limitations when compared to the real-life hobby, particularly as played by those who've been collecting cards for years, but Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 is a full-featured package that successfully communicates the spirit of this timeless game.