MLB ‘08: The Show is catered towards the stat freaks out there (me included) and it’ll grab a hold of you and never let go.

There is no denying EA when it comes to slick presentation, fluid gameplay, and topnotch animations, but its breakneck pace, and broken goalies will definitely take away some of its charm.

It's thrilling in a way that gets your juices flowing.

The many customizable settings really ensure a unique gaming experience for all skill levels, and jamming the ball down the other players' throats is satisfying.

I am more surprised by Dark Cloud 2's disappointments than I am its achievements. I expected it to be great. I assumed I would enjoy it a lot. But I never once dreamed that its story would be so annoying!

The missions are varied, are never redundant... The only problem is that it is extremely easy to beat.

Sure you’ll miss the features found on the bigger boys (Owner Mode or even Spring Training Mode) but there’s just no denying how good this game feels in your hands.

Witch-King may not leave that same sense of wonder as when the original Battle for Middle-earth II launched, but it is – nonetheless – a challenging game that offers a new look at the rich tapestry of Tolkien’s world.

While it may not be for everybody, EoD provides a great wrecking racing experience that I personally think is better than any other one out to date.

Intense action wrapped around an evolving storyline.

It's got excellent battle mechanics, plenty of character building choices, a bright airy feel, some witty interjections from Ryduo and Skye, and has hours and hours of gameplay.

Even gamers that never played a Dragon Quest game should be able to find the charm underneath the old-school gameplay.

The controls are responsive and worked well, both for the sneaking around aspect and the heads up melee fighting if you happen to get spotted.

At it's heart, the game is all about collecting presents and funkifying earthlings; and it's a lot of fun, especially with a friend.

An intriguing challenge, and one of the better civilization games to emerge this year.

While Supreme Ruler 2010 is not the prettiest game in the world, it does have a lot of depth that will keep players coming back for ages.

The graphics are wonderful, the action is quick and can be tense, and the game can be enjoyed in short spurts of time. This is a racer that fans of the genre should check out.

Immersive, looks good and is an incredible challenge.

MLB may stumble a bit rounding first, but it easily makes the turn at second and barrels into third with big league-style graphics and intuitive gameplay.

The game is pretty fun for Western fans. Just be prepared for some frustrating stealth mission and a couple minor clipping issues.

It's the biggest leap in the series so far.

The team management mode is a little light and there is no way to create a player to put into the action, but the look and feel of the game is very solid.

The musical score and effects are well done, but problems were encountered in clipped narrative. The options menu did not contain any way to turn on or off the effects.

The most fun I've had with the SimCity franchise since SimCity 2000.

An intriguing and wonderful game feature is the magic-casting system. You find or buy runes and then memorize the symbol and using the control key in conjunction with the mouse, draw the rune on the computer monitor to cast the spell. The effect is stunning.

A great expansion pack to a great real-time strategy game. Having a third faction that can stand up to the other two factions really helps give this game new life in the single player, and let’s not forget the multiplayer.

The jerky third-person graphics and sound breakup were a bit disappointing, but Endless Ages does offer interesting and new twists on the MMO world.

A wonderful cerebral exercise, and is also addictive and fun. There are some load times between scenes, the mapboards are not large, but this game is well done.

If you enjoy action games with a dash of strategy that are open ended, have a good amount of replay value, and offer you the chance to play as you wish, then you should definitely check it out.

It’s short, but it is a delicious bit of eye candy and rather fun to play.

The care and attention to detail evident in this game is a testimony to the designers' integrity, which is too often missing in children's games.

For a game to be really fun, there has to be that hook, well, this title has that hook. As in hooked me into playing it all-the-time. A popular game in my house right now and I imagine will be for quite a while.

With its wide open spaces fit for exploration and wonderfully action-packed mission scenarios, this is a first-rate game for fans of first-person shooters set during WWII.

This poorly designed camera cannot keep up in many situations.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope is a fun game that will keep players occupied for days on end. There are so many things to do with the various endings and side missions players can embark upon. Even though there are a few issues, they can be overlooked by the sheer fun players will have with this game.

The problems are relatively minor, and time in the saddle playing the game will yield dividends in terms of guiding your chosen team toward championship after championship.

Okay, so maybe it's not the best RPG of the year. But it brings a good laugh to anyone who plays it.

The game is entertaining and a visual treat. The development team did a good job building on the original title, tweaking what needed to be tweaked and leaving the core mechanics intact. If you are looking for a solid, off-road racer, this is a good bet.

This title ported very well to the Xbox. Though mostly a quest-driven RPG, Arx Fatalis still manages to offer enough variety and discovery to keep players enthralled.

It’s a bit on the short side of things and the camera can be a little tricky at times, but overall this is a nice, shiny package worthy of your consideration.

The game is not overly complex, but it is graphically pleasing and is great fun for families and as a party game. The effects sparkle and the action is humorous.

I really liked how the developers of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi went “outside the box” when creating this game and didn’t stick to the formula that the other Budokai set up.

If looked at as a music expansion disc (one that can be played entirely on its own), Band Hero is a solid deal. Just don’t think of it as an opportunity to expand on the Guitar Hero franchise with something fresh – that, it does not do.

Despite the underwhelming Road to Ruin deleted scene (I guess it was deleted for a reason), the multiplayer maps are great.

Caesar IV offers hours of gameplay with lots of different types of scenarios to choose. Meeting the objectives is challenging, but not so hard as to be frustrating.

The overall game is very solid, and it really is pointing out excellence to say that the only complaint is a faint lack of anything new. Galactic Civilizations II is an extremely well developed game.

With the special containers hidden on other levels, new anime cutscenes, and various other additions make this game a worthy purchase for anyone who is a fan of the Mega Man X series.

If you are already a Tiger Woods PGA Tour fan, you will surely appreciate the unique translation on the Wii. Compared to Wii Golf, Tiger Woods 07 is a lot more user friendly.

The only problem with this game is that the AI is not the smartest.

While the storytelling and gameplay are a bit on the slow and awkwardly paced side, Gladius can be a pretty deep and engaging tactical RPG.

A big improvement over NBA Live 07 (or 06, for that matter), offering some great features and cleaner gameplay. If you’ve been waiting for the next-gen iterations to catch up with the current-gen versions, then this is one to get.

The DS finally has an RTS capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the system’s wide selection of great turn-based strategy games. Don’t let the cartoon vibe throw you—Robocalypse has enough strategy goodness to keep any genre fan happy.

Somewhat of a niche game, The Eye of Judgment nonetheless makes the whole trading card game genre accessible and graphically entertaining.

The police pursuit ends way too quickly (only once was a roadblock encountered), but solid graphics and sound accelerate this game down the home stretch.

Pros might be disappointed in only 14 missions to tackle. There are hidden fields and surprises to unlock though, so Midway has not forgotten the most devoted and persnickety of game fans.

This game actually supersedes the original in various aspects and the addition of a diverse number of side missions and multiplayer co-op make this game a blast to play so if you liked the first game you will love this one.

Yes, you are able to import your sims, and yes you can observe their daily routine as they work their way up from the inner-city slums into a high-level corporate position, but then you have to ask yourself why you would want to do that to begin with.

The touchscreen sequences for Venom are well done and use that feature of the DS to the gamer’s advantage. But the Spidey sequences under-use the touch screen, and the sound can be a little tinny at times, when heard through the DS speaker.

Very solid overall and the bottom line is that it is extremely fun to play.

Terrific graphical elements play against gameplay that is simple to jump into and get to the business of battle. This game is entertaining and challenging.

Better than last year’s 2004 and the inclusion of Xbox Live support will be important to fans of the series, but there isn’t anything remarkably better that warrants an immediate purchase.

The game tells a good story and the cast is incredible. It looks good, it plays decently and will cause the occasionally joyful noise from anyone who has treasured the Marvel comic books.

Sega Rally Revo isn’t a fresh turn around every corner, but it’s still one of the best racing games released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 platforms. Fans of the original (and/or its sequels) shouldn’t hesitate to pick up Revo.

While it’s certainly not for everyone, Mega Man ZX Advent offers some of the best 2D shooter action in years.

Spongebob’s Atlantis Squarepantis successfully utilizes the SpongeBob license to create a game with great controls, excellent mechanics, and diverse levels and objectives.

This is a truly solid and enjoyable expansion. It can be very hard on the player, but part of the magic of the NWN series is that it requires you to think about what you are doing.

The combat is well realized with the only drawbacks coming with camera perspectives, though you can learn to deal with that early in the game.

The multiplayer aspect of GP 2004 is an absolute blast. There’s nothing like the excitement and tension of racing against a human player when you round that final turn, neck and neck, frantically fighting the urge to not make your move too soon, especially if your foe begins to pull away.

Fans of the previous Spider-Man games will be glad to know that the gameplay mechanics of this title have been tweaked and refined almost the point of perfection.

For the young crowd the game is wonderfully accessible and for the older crowd it will not fail to pull you into its charming interpretation of the Star Wars saga's prequels.

This is well-made, well-developed title. The end result isn't the new gold standard, but the idea and implementation sure are good.

Much of the humor is geared towards younger ages, but there were still parts that I, a hardcore action and violence gamer, chuckled at.

This is a wonderfully challenging PC title which should sate the appetites of a niche long neglected - and it even gives you more than you would want by giving it a aesthetically pleasing presentation!

It boasts simplistic, pick-up-and-play mechanics that make this one an absolute blast for short or even long gaming spurts. It doesn’t skimp on depth despite its simplicity, either.

While never reaching the first-person shooter standards of games like "Time Splitters 2" or "Red Faction 2," this is still one enjoyable game.

I think this is a great game, it has wonderful features and the strategy is solid.

Stronghold is an intriguing and ‘fresh’ perspective on the civilization genre. It is filled with great graphical elements and sound, and plays well. This is a solid and enjoyable outing.

A must-own for fans of Arkanoid or any similar-style game.

NCAA Football 10 isn’t really a huge improvement over 09, but manages to play as a more polished and complete experience, thanks to great new features like Teambuilder and Season Showdown.

This game is tough – but from my general experience, this is what survival horror games are all about.

Magnetica is no Tetris DS but it certainly is an addictively enjoyable Nintendo DS game puzzle fans will definitely want to have when they’re in the mood for a good portable puzzler.

A truly entertaining and addictive gruesome action game and a perfect sequel to the original.

Worth its weight in gold alone due to the ability for people to move their MP3s, JPEGs, or MP3s to the Xbox and add them to the soundtrack collection. This is a nice addition to your Xbox and can provide some interesting entertainment at parties.

You tend to see most everything coming, which means there are few plot twists that are not either foreshadowed or anticipated. Still, it is a good storyline, and the game is entertaining.

Certain parts need polishing, sure, including AI and level design. But anyone craving superhero action should pick this title up immediately.

"Burnout" still holds the crown for most-realistic crashes, but Stuntman is the new champ of realistic body damage. Think you've seen a car get beat up before? Think again.

If you are the type of gamer that likes a good button-masher, and can work past the occasional which-way-is-up camera angles, then this game should have tremendous appeal for you.

EA has definitely shown improvement in their second soccer effort on the Wii since there’s plenty of variety in the gameplay and game modes. Also, the graphics are about as good as can be for a Wii game.

There are not many surprises here, but there is a lot of action and a great deal of entertainment value. Bigger and more robust than its predecessor, Mercenaries 2 is a solid action-adventure ride that combines role-play elements, solid characters and a sense of fun.

The game may be weak when it comes to the look of the game, but the animation is very good, the sound is excellent, and the program is rich with options.

Jam may lack the luster and polish of the Wii launch title, but this is a game that does a good job fitting the graphics and sound to play style and provides a nice range of game modes.

The excellent production value and a stellar song list will make Karaoke Revolution Country the life of the party for those that wear cowboy boots and say “y’all come back now, ya hear”.

This is a great game; if you’re looking for something to play with your friends this is definitely a buy.

It is a shame that a little more time didn't go into trying to make the game unique.

Though not as hilarious as its PS2 sequel, Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness is the best, most expansive and most addictive strategy/RPG available for PSP.

Whether or not you let the game’s little flaws bother you, there’s no denying that Eternal Poison is a unique, visually striking game, and the tactical gameplay is deep and engaging.

While more choices in exhibit design and more stats would have added to the enjoyment a trifle for adults, the lack of these won't bother the kids, and really won't most adults, either.

If you’ve played the PS2 version, nothing you’ll find here will make you see this game in a new light but this is truly the version to own if you own both systems for the bonus missions and crisper visuals.