Buy it for the multiplayer, pass on the single-player.

A significant improvement over the first, Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 is one of the best original (non-port) RPGs released for the DS platform. Naruto fans will definitely be engrossed by the story and anime-inspired scenarios, but this is also a quality role-playing game that RPG fans will want to check out.

A repetitive beat-'em-up and on-foot racing game rolled into one. The Incredibles game isn't as incredible as the film.

Ratatouille is a fun game; the only sad thing is that this game really doesn’t try to add anything new.

The multiplayer is amazing, and the single-player can be very rewarding if you're willing to go the extra mile, and you have to be willing to spend a lot of time perfecting your skills.

Fails to grasp the raw intensity of a basketball street game or offer something that comes close to a challenge. Fans of basketball will be surely disappointed with this offering.

There are definitely flaws, but nothing that brings the game to a screeching halt.

It may not be the 3D Pokemon game fans have been crying for ever since the N64 era, but its own take on the "gotta friend 'em all" formula can be just as addicting as catching them.

Manhunt 2 struggles to break new ground, but will satisfy your blood-thirst and offer some new challenges that will keep you entertained, satisfied and disgusted all at the same time.

Boring graphics and irritating load times aside, Metal Saga is a half-way decent RPG. The charm lies in the bizarre enemies and the vehicular combat.

It might not satisfy quite like the third-person shooter action games of late but the game offers lengthy missions that just get better the further you go. It’s a shame that many of the original game’s flaws return in full force in this sequel.

A technically weak port on the PS2, Size Matters is best left on the PSP.

Be prepared for a odd mixture of other games with the 24 presentation and story.

Rumble Roses XX plays as good as it looks but with very little variety in the gameplay as well as the lack of a story mode makes this a wrestling game that just doesn’t have what it takes to make this a new favorite.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a solid licensed title, and one of the better games aimed at kids to release this holiday season. It’s not going to redefine the licensed-game market, but it will provide a reasonably good time to any little Madagascar fan who finds a copy under the tree.

Although Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 plays it safe with vanilla additions and the ability to jump for casual gamers, the one thing it has going for it is an excellent presentation.

I like it, but I don't love it, and a part of me is really getting tired of it. The series needs to do something else – something new – if it wants to flourish.

One of those games that, at first, is merely fascinating to look at, then becomes addictive.

Career mode steals the ball and dribbles down the floor, passes to gameplay, gameplay passes the ball to graphics, graphics dribbles the ball off its foot. That about sums it up.

A lot of fun to play, and even when I got annoyed at getting killed due to the camera giving me a problem (which happened more than it probably should have), I found myself going back in and playing it again.

Gamers will quickly grow tiresome of the same challenges and back-and-forth monotony.

While Northland has a good focus on combat and more exciting missions than Cultures 2 had, it still has a lot of focus on the building and Godsim elements as well. This does add a ton of up front play to the game though, and it is amazing how addicting this game gets once you sit down and start getting into it.

If you get burned out on repetitive action and don’t like paying Coop only online, then you may want to skip it and see what the next FPS game coming out will be since you will probably find it to get repetitive and may lose interest after a short time.

Dull and boring, not too many will play it longer than one sit through. For the fan of the series, you may want to rent since there is no nostalgic moments to reminisce about.

If you are you die-hard Spidey fan and must have this game, do yourself a favor and buy a gamepad. For all others, avoid getting caught in this web.

There are just so many things to do! While not all of them are fun, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

For the modern nature lover, this might be one of the easiest (and safest) ways to get in touch with your wild side. At least if "wild" means "solving anagrams on your gaming console."

The graphics in this game are unsurprisingly bad; the character models look as if they consist of no more then ten or twenty polygons apiece.

A decently fun action game, albeit one that is a trifle short and a little bland, with not much difference between the levels.

The environments aren't as LEGO-y as the fans will desire, but on the bright side the gameplay is akin to "Baldur's Gate" and will entertain you until the end. The end comes fast though. Keep that in mind.

This may be a good title for younger players familiar with the cartoon. It has some variety, the levels are short and the atmosphere is light.

Even though this Alter Echo has a unique idea, the repetition kills it completely. This game is a good rental but nothing more.

This is a good collection, but it's old. Not in the good, classical meaning of the word. Old as-in, repeat. It's been done before, and done well. There is no reason to have this unless you never touched the original Namco Museum.

The game has some amazing graphics and a style that is hard to match. If you've never played a Viewtiful Joe game and you want a quick experience then RHR is a good place to start.

If Lineage II has one main problem, it is that it is a treadmill supported by an economic system that is inane.

Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law isn’t the game that will create a resurgence in PS2 gaming. Instead we get a typical point-and-click type of game with a zany cast of characters that will please die-hard fans of the television show.

The fast-paced and intense offense showcases the style of play found in the AFL. Gamers wanting a deep and extensive football experience will be disappointed.

Hardcore fans of simulation football should probably stay clear of Blitz: The League II unless they’re looking for a cool storyline. However, anybody else who is even moderately interested in football should take a liking to this Blitz game.

Simply and entertaining, this game requires very little mental work but quick fingers and a decent sense of timing. It might be a little beyond the capabilities of younger players, but those from 8 or 9 and up should find this fun.

A lengthy strategy game with a fair learning curve. It’ll take you an hour to understand the controls and combat system; it could take twice as long to grasp the massive ship-building system.

The addition of character control and world exploration are a natural transition for the series. The picture is crystal clear, simplifying the act of card placement.

Had it been taken as seriously as other racers on the market, NASCAR 2011 could have been a very solid title.

The gameplay more than makes up for the lack of big budget production.

The biggest downside here is in the game length, and most gamers will be able to run through it probably in a matter of 1 – 2 hours.

There will be plenty of people out there that will eat this title up, and just as many people scratching their heads as they don't know what is going on.

The new ways to play it are creative, but most of them aren’t different enough to make you feel like you’re playing a variety of modes.

The mediocre graphics combined with the serious lack of options guarantee that it will end up collecting dust on my shelf.

Strong narrative and open-ended design are the highlights of this fantasy experience. Divinity II: Ego Draconis will likely be overlooked by many due to the timing of its release, but it offers a genuinely engrossing world for RPG buffs to wallow in.

Chronicles of Mystery The Scorpio Ritual is a good game for a few hours of adventure game fun. Players in-between games at the moment may want to pick this one up and play.

Not quite what I was hoping for.

Newcomers or younger gamers hopefully will try it out and see where the fun is, but ultimately this game is for those of us who grew up during that golden 80's era.

With a little more polish and options this game could have been exceptional. The content and graphics were done wonderfully, but the poor interface and frustrating controls get in the way of the enjoyment.

Racing enthusiasts and gear heads will be able to squeeze some fun out of this title, but very few others will. There is no lean into the gameplay for simulation racing newcomers, so you should probably stay away from this one unless you know you like sim racers.

Accessible, with an easy-to-learn control scheme, this game should appeal to younger players while still providing a minor challenge for slightly older players.

ProStreet has a tiring, monotonous start that could turn off even the most loyal Need for Speed fanatic. But if have the need to stick around, the race events do speed up to a better, more enjoyable pace. Eventually.

While this definitely expands the world of UO in terms of new territories, it still offers much the same in gameplay aspects.

New Zealand Story Revolution makes no concessions to the 20 years that have passed since the original hit arcades. It’s tough as nails, but the game’s fan base wouldn’t have it any other way.

Newer gamers who haven't played the original might find this game to not be worth the trouble due to the difficulty.

Heatseeker is a mediocre, action-filled romp in the sky that is over quickly and is enjoyable only in short bursts.

The shooting mechanic is passable, but aiming is excruciatingly slow. The morale mechanic is pretty forgettable.

An average game that needed an infusion of hardcore "controllable" action and an improved combat system. The missions needed to be varied from the beginning to the end.

Nothing more than a weekend rental, Heroes Over Europe is a disappointing title when gamers look back and take notice at how well Transmission Games handled their first flight game, Heroes of the Pacific.

If you're playing this after finishing "Splashdown" or "Wave Race: Blue Storm," the graphics don't seem quite as spectacular.

Has a great storyline and is set in an amazing world, but is only a typical RTS/FPS title.

A fun and fast paced sim.

A decent simulation with cute animals, always a sure bet for kids and all lovers of nature. There are a few rough edges, but there are also more things to do than in "Zoo Tycoon," and the price is better.

It's not unplayable, so I can't go much lower than a 59. This is the most wonderful time of the year, however. Do you really want to be playing a game that's playable but isn't most wonderful?

The amount of strategy required to play this game is impressive, if not intimidating. It will take some time to understand the mechanics of the game, but once you do, you’ll likely find the gameplay strangely addictive.

The new missions are great to play through, and it is exciting to see what the name of the add-on means, and to know that there has to be additional add-ons coming in the future.

The graphics are uninspiring, the sounds are weak and worst of all-- the controls make it a CHORE to play.

It combines stunning batting graphics with an option package to suit any baseball fan’s taste or skill level.

Not even close to matching the experience of the X-Men movies, the comic book, or even the classic X-Men game released for the Genesis.

Perfect for the younger set.

The mini-games turned out to be better than the platforming aspects of the single-player campaign. Their fresh and original in comparison to other licensed video games based on animated films.

More of the same with a few additional spices, Cooking Mama: World Kitchen isn't the freshest game in the market. But fans of the series should be entertained, especially those who can appreciate the silly humor that it provides.

Filled with all of the delightfully loony character of the Looney Tunes cartoons and their wildly hilarious antics, Space Race is a game that will not fail to amuse or bring a smile to your face.

Sports richly detailed environments, a solid soundtrack and gameplay. However, this game is a somewhat typical foray into the RTS genre.

With an easy control interface, and its incredible graphics, game play and sound, this program is the best in its genre, without a doubt. It is a joy to play.

Fast, exciting and much different from the futuristic racing crowd.

This is a decent expansion, but it is not a must-have one.

A solid challenge for younger gamers, the game treads familiar platforming ground, but manages to capture the themes of the television show. Not overly original, still the license is used decently here to power a solid side-scrolling platformer.

The main reason for a DS is to able to play games when out and about. Solitaire, Crosswords and Sudoku are the perfect type of games to play while sitting in forced idleness. I plan on taking this game with me when I visit the family over Christmas. Travel Games for Dummies compares well to other like offerings, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys word and puzzle games.

An outrageously funny and extremely naughty game that bends the rules but still falls a bit flat due to its repetitive nature.

It’s not going to be an award winner, and it might not stay in your heart or mind for too long, but it is a fresh new game for the DS.

Repetitive gameplay aside, the game’s few flaws don’t take away from the action or cool options. This is strictly for the fans.

NHL2K11 gets props for taking advantage of the Wii's bigger bullet points, like Wii Speak and MotionPlus, and for giving the series some focus by being exclusive to one console. However, there are some control issues and laggy online play that truly prevent the game from achieving hockey greatness.

Fracture is a solid effort that offers a new mechanic to the shooter formula and allows for some exciting new ways to play. Unfortunately, for what it does right in Terrain Deformation, its issues fall with the basics of the genre due to spotty AI and frustrating aiming issues.

Great simulation gameplay; even better arcade-style gameplay; an excellent soundtrack; updated graphics; and a number of tweaks and additional game modes that would make the guy this game is based on (what’s his name again?) proud.

A good first-person shooter. The storyline maybe a bit familiar, but the new settings and the way Rollins expresses himself all add up to a very enjoyable time.

It's a keep ya playing kinda game.

Safe, sterile and redundant.

Not content to deliver a substandard singleplayer, however, Bizarre crafted an equally ho-hum multiplayer.

A grand collection of inspired mini-games.

The team-based elements are great, calling to mind X-Men Legends. Unfortunately, the game lacks depth and feels pretty linear, making the adventure short lived overall.

Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires had nice-looking visuals, but the strong point was its great beat-em-up combat. At the very least, it is a good quality game for the price.

Word Whomp was the primary reason I wanted this game, and it’s disappointing to see puzzles repeat themselves. It’s also disappointing to see the game say, "That word is not in our dictionary," when the PC version finds it every time.

SpaceForce: Rogue Universe has some great concepts and gameplay elements, but unfortunately the unintuitive interface and lack of tutorial will keep many gamers from seeing them.

You may be the biggest Spiderwick fan in the world, but unless you’re looking for a tiring gameplay experience that’s been done a zillion times before, do not let this spider crawl into your Wii collection.