It's nice to see Nintendo take a chance on a franchise that's untested overseas, but Glory of Heracles doesn't leave a good first impression. It's simply too linear and devoid of the frills we've come to expect from an RPG. With better options on the market, simply being average doesn't come close to the Herculean effort the series needs.

Fun but short, and lacking enemies more substantial than guys with grenade launchers. The series definitely still has quite a bit of potential to live up to, but if you have a friend to partner up with, it’s definitely worth taking a couple trips to witness the destruction of Shanghai.

Though it gets off to a decent start, Sands of Destruction fails to keep up the pace. The battle mechanics deteriorate only after a few hours, and the story fails to compensate you for time invested.

Though better than most, Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces doesn't quite have the lasting power or polish to set it apart from the high fliers in the genre. For most prospective pilots, it's a decent rent, but if all you care about is smooth controls and shooting down bogies anime-style, then this is your bag.

It's able to emulate its idols very well, so whatever War is doing, it's bound to be enjoyable. But anyone who's attracted to this sort of game, or action games in general, is going to feel more familiar than floored.

Bayonetta is as good as it gets when it comes to action games. The combat system is the work of masters, and the whole production is vivid, bold, and imaginative. It's also a hugely substantial experience that sustains and encourages repeat playthroughs.

There are a lot of unique concepts in The Crystal Bearers, but their flawed execution puts a damper on the experience. Combat aside, it's got a few redeeming qualities, namely, a strong story, and some genuinely fun sequences. If you're expecting the traditional Square Enix offering of magic, leveling, and gear management, you'll be put off by the radical departure.

PixelJunk Shooter is slick, addictive, and memorable, and more than worth the $10 dollars it'll set you back. It's also clear that this is just the first installment in what we're hoping is a long, ongoing inquiry into the science of fun.

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.

Exceptionally strong visuals for the platform and creative, well-implemented motion controls make for a memorable experience, as long as you're OK with running away from some of your more disturbing problems.

Spirit Tracks addresses all of the shortcomings of Phantom Hourglass and delivers a brilliant experience. It hasn't done much to change up the established formula, but it's still a solid adventure that ranks as one of the better outings in the series.

Somewhere, there's a decent game hiding camouflaged in the canopies. When dinging levels leaves you feeling blue, even a Navi eco-terrorist will run for greener pastures.

MX vs. ATV Reflex is a bit of a mess. There are some good tracks to race on, but the control scheme is overcomplicated, the visuals are ugly, and the motorcycles are the only vehicles worth spending any time with. Determined players will find some value in it, but for everyone else there are much better racing options available.

As a port, Tekken 6 offers some of the best fighting you'll encounter on a handheld, though if you already have a copy on the consoles, there's little point in splurging. For better or worse, the game provides an identical experience across the board.

The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned is a humorous and entertaining episode to extend the Borderlands experience. However, it can be a bit repetitive at times, and it lacks any worthwhile souvenirs.

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.

Assassin’s Creed II has plenty of fixes and additions, but the story can drag, and the sense of awe that the parkour provided two years ago is muted. Yet new mission types, freedom from a linear quest, added depth, and a stronger historical bent fortify the overall experience. There’s still no other game quite like it, and whether you dismissed the first game or absolutely loved it, this is one creed worth taking.

Assassin’s Creed II has plenty of fixes and additions, but the story can drag, and the sense of awe that the parkour provided two years ago is muted. Yet new mission types, freedom from a linear quest, added depth, and a stronger historical bent fortify the overall experience. There’s still no other game quite like it, and whether you dismissed the first game or absolutely loved it, this is one creed worth taking.

The latest Resident Evil spinoff is full of nostalgia and insight for dedicated fans, and it will provide anyone who isn't a zombie sympathizer plenty of 10 to 20 minute chunks of simple-but-satisfying light gun shooting.

From the cumbersome load times to the malfunctioning board it's just clunky. If you set it to casual and bring it out at a party it will draw some interest, but it won't take long before everyone realizes it's work to play, and ultimately, not very fun. At a steep $120, it's a bit of a wipeout.

Though not an astounding improvement over the original, Left 4 Dead 2 successfully rekindles that magical zombie-hunting feeling with great new content, and a cool competitive multiplayer mode to boot. It may take some convincing to draw you to its cause, but cooperative team-based shooting is rarely more fun, or hectic, than this.

With co-op play at its core, the lack of online options holds it back, and returning to Indiana Jones with a focus on the worst film in the series probably wasn't the best choice for a new Lego adventure.

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.

Not even counting user-created content, LittleBigPlanet is one of the strongest games on the platform this year, even with the minor control issues.

God of War Collection provides the definitive versions of two PS2 classics. If you've never played them before, there's never been a better time to check them out. For hardcore fans, the updated visuals amount to experiencing these stellar games with fresh eyes. Consider the God of War III demo included in the package icing on the cake.

Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines not only fails to live up to the high standards set by its console brethren, it also fails to deliver an experience worthy of your time and money. If you own a 360 or a PS3, and are looking for a worthy successor to Assassin's Creed, pass on this and pick up the proper sequel.

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.

The multiplayer element, though far from its selling point, adds a welcome, manic element that amounts to icing on the cake. This, simply, 2D Mario at its best, and it's been a long time coming.