With the witty banter, humorous storyline, and excellent cast of characters, Jolly Rover manages to create an identity of its own.

The tweaks and changes are definitely appreciated, but there's really nothing here that couldn't have been done in a patch to improve the base game.

Issues aside, Snoopy: Flying Ace is a triumph for one reason above all else – feel. Once you get the hang of it, there's a connection with the controls and a sense of mastery that few games pull off successfully.

Animations and the Tackle Alley mini-game aside, Backbreaker doesn't have much to offer fans of the sport. It's worth a rental, if only to see what other developers can do with the genre.

The list of technical issues plagued the title right from the on-start and continued until the ugly ending. Whether it was one enemy mysteriously multiplying into three enemies before my eyes (maybe he was Marvel's Multiple Man?) or enemies running in circles around platforms for no good reason besides chasing their own tail, Alpha Protocol is a good lesson of how not to create a video game.

Watch the World Cup on television and bypass this effort.

On single-player, Blur is an average racing game with a powered-up twist. Repeating races and receiving beautiful cars that remain untouched due to the lack of customization gets old fast. The outdated rave-vibe, including the music and menus, don't do the presentation any favors either. As a multiplayer title, Blur is absolutely exhilarating.

On single-player, Blur is an average racing game with a powered-up twist. Repeating races and receiving beautiful cars that remain untouched due to the lack of customization gets old fast. The outdated rave-vibe, including the music and menus, don’t do the presentation any favors either. As a multiplayer title, Blur is absolutely exhilarating.

A force to be reckoned with. THQ has put every other fighting game on notice as UFC Undisputed 2010 has moved into the domain of one of the best games in the genre.

An intelligent, deep and enjoyable game that takes the 'play, create, share' initiative and runs with it. Fun, entertaining, a pleasure to look at and create in – MNR raises the bar for the genre.

For a game that takes as long as this one does to complete, the production value, the price and the experience, its really a no-brainer if you are an RPG player.

Mario Galaxy 2 is a game that would sell the Wii if most gamers didn't already have one. It will amaze you, it will surprise you, and most of all it will be a game that you will cherish for years to come.

It has some pacing issues, loose ends, and can be absurdly linear, but none of these factors can overpower the incredible events that unfold.

With tons of content both online and off, stellar production values, and solid gameplay, Red Dead Redemption is an absolute blast to play, and a time-consuming one at that.

While there are some problems here and there, Split/Second is a great racer, with a simple, arcade feel that allows for great accessibility and some real challenges for hardcore fans of the genre.

The attention spent on level design at least returns to being above average, even though the detail within the environments isn't up to par.

Bit.Trip Runner requires tremendous levels of patience, determination, and skill, probably more than most people can muster. If you have what it takes, Bit.Trip Runner is absolutely fantastic - a rare game that makes you truly happy to be playing.

Absolute Power isn't a revolution, instead taking the framework laid out by the original game and building on it with new features and a wacky new campaign.

There are times when Rocket Knight shines and is reminiscent of the good ol’ days of Saturday morning cartoons. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s a shallow, one-off title that once it is completed, will fade from memory.

If you're looking for something competitive to sink some serious time into then Heroes of Newerth is one of the best options out there.

While the single-player portion feels like an afterthought due to repetitive mission design and weak AI, the multiplayer element carries the experience well and should keep you invested.

Skate 3 takes one step back for every step forward. Creating custom skate parks is a blast, especially now that vert works without a hitch, but that doesn't substitute for an uninspired city-scape.

In terms of presentation, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 is a fine entry to the franchise. However, series stalwarts will begin to see the seams showing in the game's tepid storyline and bland gameplay mechanics.

The gameplay is a great mix of new and old, the visual design is clever and colorful, and the challenge is welcomed by veterans of the source material.

While the single-player portion feels like an afterthought due to repetitive mission design and weak AI, the multiplayer element carries the experience well and should keep you invested.

Too bad, then, that the game looks terrible on the Wii.

Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition isn't a terribly long game, and gamers shouldn't have a problem getting through the main campaign in under seven hours. However, regardless of length, the strange, brutal, and somehow beautiful world that ACE Team has created here is one that you won't want to miss out on.

Dementium II desperately wants to be one of the big boys of horror, but it's hard to be scared of a modern game that barely looks and plays up to the standards of the original Quake.

Iron Man should be the ultimate mech, the battle suit that tantalizes, and fires the imaginations of gamers. Iron Man 2, though, is more blech than mech, and it stumbles along delivering a gaming experience that is unrewarding.

Iron Man 2 is not a bad DS game, it's just not a terribly good one. The controls can be frustrating, and the whole experience becomes far too repetitious as you go along.

It cannot be said enough, though: My Lord?! 2 isn't for the weak-minded or uninitiated. It's directly catered to hardcore gamers who have the patience and willingness to come back for second and third attempts at completing a stage.

Tecmo Bowl Throwback is precisely what the name implies. The developers never stray from the core mechanics of the original and choose to remain steadfast with the simple and dated, yet unabashedly fun gameplay. Sadly, the enjoyment lasts about as long as a fleeting memory.

Conviction appeals to a whole new crowd that grew up on creating distractions, using every single gadget in their inventory and dragging bodies into shadows. If Conviction is evidence of where Ubisoft is taking the series, they are about to win over a lot of new fans and potentially upset a portion of those already loyal.

If you aren’t playing Dead to Rights: Retribution for its silly good old-fashioned crime story arc, you are playing it for the wrong reasons. It may be a farce, but Dead to Rights: Retribution is the equivalent of a straight-to-DVD Dolph Lundgren or Jean-Claude Van Damme film.

Yes, Dead To Rights: Retribution is violent. It’s also dark, vicious and amoral, with ten levels packed with face painted thugs waiting to get killed in all manner of slow motion, blood splattering ways.

Nier is a missed opportunity. There are moments when the storytelling shines, but those are few and far between in a pretty drab quest-laden game with boring missions and fetch quests.

Street Fighter IV was a marvelous fighter and Super Street Fighter IV only furthers that notion with excellent additions that provide a whole new life to the series that has come full circle with Capcom’s brilliant revival.

Street Fighter IV was a marvelous fighter and Super Street Fighter IV only furthers that notion with excellent additions that provide a whole new life to the series that has come full circle with Capcom’s brilliant revival.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is the game that EA Sports should have been turning out, and it is the foundation upon which all future iterations of the franchise should be built.

Hugely disappointing for fans of the solid FIFA 10 on the Wii, we say stick to that or pick up a much more entertaining 360/PS3 version instead.

If, like me, you have warm fuzzy memories of the glory days of LucasArts, Revolution and AdventureSoft, you'll enjoy The Whispered World. And I did. But there are simply too many shortcomings here to give this game a hearty recommendation. Muted praise, then, for a whispered world.

A solid story well told and creaky gameplay mechanics result in a good game, but one that's definitely not recommended for a wide audience.

Boasting two faithfully reproduced arcade classics, Final Fight: Double Impact is a fantastic value and a must-buy for fans of old-school arcade fans.

Boasting two faithfully reproduced arcade classics, Final Fight: Double Impact is a fantastic value and a must-buy for fans of old-school arcade fans.

Appeals to a whole new crowd that grew up on creating distractions, using every single gadget in their inventory and dragging bodies into shadows. If Conviction is evidence of where Ubisoft is taking the series, they are about to win over a lot of new fans and potentially upset a portion of those already loyal.

Fast, spot-on controls for sprinting and jumping, combined with amazingly detailed levels, make Lead and Gold an incredibly intense experience with bullets flying around every corner.

An absolute disappointment when compared to the expectations that are attached to DLC packs that are this expensive. Kasumi – Stolen Memory needed to be longer and provide more back-story to the troubled thief.

An absolute disappointment when compared to the expectations that are attached to DLC packs that are this expensive. Kasumi – Stolen Memory needed to be longer and provide more back-story to the troubled thief.

One serious issue remains though. The servers are completely empty. No one is online.

If you want to live a long and healthy life, avoid at all costs.

With Din's Curse, players will have access to something that is familiar and fresh all at once. Having new scenarios play out each time really heightens the replay value of the title.

This is a storybook adventure, no doubt about it, and a lame one at that. Proceed with caution.

After hours upon hours of competitive gameplay, Samurai Shodown: Sen didn’t serve enough entertainment value to satisfy my tastes. It’s a shame since the series has long been one of the more popular franchises among hardcore fighting fans.

Mount & Blade: Warpath can be a very overwhelming game given the sheer amount of complexity, but gamers who stick with it and get past the steep learning curve will have a good time.

If, however, you've always wanted to make your own WarioWare mini-games – or have had the desire to create any game at all – WarioWare: D.I.Y. is an impressive package that won't let you down.

While it won’t revolutionize the first-person shooter genre or change the way we see online multiplayer shooter action, Section 8 sets out to show gamers a good time it is accomplishes that mission successfully.

A huge improvement over its predecessor, Just Cause 2 is a blast to play, offering a vast island to explore and great ways to do it... Unfortunately, the repetitive mission design and lousy script keep this from being a truly classic experience.

A huge improvement over its predecessor, Just Cause 2 is a blast to play, offering a vast island to explore and great ways to do it... Unfortunately, the repetitive mission design and lousy script keep this from being a truly classic experience.

A huge improvement over its predecessor, Just Cause 2 is a blast to play, offering a vast island to explore and great ways to do it... Unfortunately, the repetitive mission design and lousy script keep this from being a truly classic experience.

Red Steel 2 is everything the original game should've been and more. While there are some lingering control issues and a linear feel, this is one of the best shooters you can find on the Wii.

The game looks good and the controls are not hard to understand, but this is another in a long line of games that are riding the crest of the feature film and not offering anything compelling enough to maintain interest for long.

The game looks good and the controls are not hard to understand, but this is another in a long line of games that are riding the crest of the feature film and not offering anything compelling enough to maintain interest for long.

The final product is one that will appeal to more impressionable children, but probably frustrate the more determined ones.

While the controls can seem a bit touchy at times, the actual racing animations feel stiff and not as fluid as they should be. Sure, these are big bikes and metal doesn’t bend that well, but there were times when it just felt as though the game was on a rail. That said, for those who like racing games and motorcycles, MotoGP 09/10 has a robust racing package that should sate appetites.

The setting is definitely terrific, and multiplayer is handled quite well, but the game just does not go that extra mile and offer something outside the graphics that sets it apart. It is a good game; it just does not go that extra step to becoming a great game.

The Firewalker is like the hotheaded younger brother of the Mako. It will likely get more nods than jeers from the fans, but the fun is over in less than an hour. Maybe we’ll see a healthy amalgam of the two vehicles faithfully integrated in the third game.

Cave Story on the Wii can be recommended to fans of the original, fans of Pixel's other projects, and just about anyone that enjoys a challenging 2D game.

Original Supreme Commander purists might be gathering their pitchforks, but the bold move to make the game appeal to a broad audience who might have found the original extremely daunting was something the series needed.

Perfect Dark isn’t a huge overhaul like other remakes on XBLA, but is still a solid and engaging title. FPS fans who missed out on the original would do well to check out this groundbreaking title, and hardcore fans should experience the game with the technical improvements.

I am a stat-junky, so Infinite Space instantly struck a chord with me. I desperately want to love it. It has a likable cast of characters, an amazing amount of gear to play with, and a story with just enough intrigue to lure you forward.

The completely revamped gameplay might turn off some fans of the series and the story isn’t quite what it should be for the end of a chapter in the Command & Conquer universe, but there is a lot of perks and upgrades to be found here for those that stick with this radical departure from the series’ mechanics.

Providing an alternate ending for those players who dedicate their time to helping those in need within the underground world, Metro 2033 has replay value in droves.

God of War III is amazing and disturbing all at once.

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon is utterly depressing. I wouldn’t mind, if there seemed to be a reasonable, unified theme. I want to love it for the beautiful world and frightening ghosts within, but beauty can only overcome absolute boredom for so long.

The new content does its job of keeping the appeal factor high, but the bugs, lack of story depth and uninteresting characters don’t exactly invite in newcomers.

The new content does its job of keeping the appeal factor high, but the bugs, lack of story depth and uninteresting characters don’t exactly invite in newcomers.

With an emphasis on feel-good playability, it’s hard to go wrong with Rage of the Gladiator. Any old school boxing gamer will feel right at home.

Whether your interest is massive or mild, I highly recommend giving Shatter a try. It reminds us what we love most about the genre, and maintains excitement rather than prolonging itself to uncomfortable limits.

There is not a doubt in my mind: Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are the pinnacle of the entire series. If you are no longer interested in Pokemon, you should still give it a shot for nostalgic purposes. If you enjoy Pokemon, the $40 price tag is chump change.

There is not a doubt in my mind: Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are the pinnacle of the entire series. If you are no longer interested in Pokemon, you should still give it a shot for nostalgic purposes. If you enjoy Pokemon, the $40 price tag is chump change.

It doesn’t bring anything new to gameplay, but considering DA:O’s battle system was already pretty darn good, no one can fault them for not trying anything new.

Order of War: Challenge feels more like a foundation than a complete experience. It’s polished and has plenty of options for setting up games, but questionable troop-types and the lack of advanced, tactical features keep Challenge in the shadows of other RTS games.

While the jump from the new Easy mode to the standard Normal difficulty is a bit too sharp, the game still does a fantastic job of capitalizing on the series’ best elements.

There’s not much else out on the Xbox Live Arcade like Scrap Metal, so it’s definitely an unique experience.

A game that impresses easily – merely looking at this game will have eyes popping and jaws dropping. However, get beyond that and there is a very linear game with many prototypical J-RPG elements in place. While there is some latitude for how battles are fought, for the most part, the game holds the player’s hand and escorts them through this fantastical land that is part fantasy and part sci-fi.

Assassin's Creed II is a great romp through the past and a present that lingers on the precipice of becoming bleak and controlled.

Taking way too long to become compelling, the game is among the most facetious RPGs on the market. It wants to play the part, but alas, it’s only playing one big practical joke on the gamer.

While the controls are pretty solid and easy to get the hang of, the game is a very boring and uninspired affair.

Toy Soldiers is the best tower defense game on the Xbox Live Arcade.

Even though the single-player campaign still isn’t where it needs to be, Bad Company 2 is definitely a great sequel that builds on its predecessor in every way, making for one that no shooter fan will want to miss, especially if you go online for your gaming.

Even though the single-player campaign still isn’t where it needs to be, Bad Company 2 is definitely a great sequel that builds on its predecessor in every way, making for one that no shooter fan will want to miss, especially if you go online for your gaming.

Even though the single-player campaign still isn’t where it needs to be, Bad Company 2 is definitely a great sequel that builds on its predecessor in every way, making for one that no shooter fan will want to miss, especially if you go online for your gaming.

With a lack of polish and an unfinished feel, chalk this one up to an experience that could’ve been a great one, but definitely isn’t.

A few errors are made here, but the series has, nonetheless, been reinvigorated.

Lunar: Silver Star Harmony’s engrossing story, lovable characters, and newly redrawn visuals make it a great on-the-go RPG for fans and newcomers alike, but the long load times and grind-heavy combat system keep it from being unbeatable.

While the game is not perfect it is a far sight better than previous iterations. Years ago there was a MVP baseball game on the PC that was top-drawer (IMO) and MLB 10 rivals, if not exceeds, that. Top to bottom, this is an entertaining game to look at and play.

Graphically this game scores well, and though the overall gameplay is nothing that has not been experienced before, the game still has a nice rhythm to it. It is what it is – a game adaptation of a movie, slightly offbeat, but accessible.

ATV Quad Kings was a missed opportunity. Being a huge fan of games like PURE and MX vs. ATV Reflex, I was hoping for a similarly-styled game on the go, but in the end was sadly disappointed.