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. If you enjoyed the franchise’s old-school reboot last year, then you owe it to yourself to pick this one up as well.

The game can be frustrating while you get the hang of maneuvering your ships, the combat is a little shallow, and the bizarre approach to the storytelling and presentation is radical. However, if you let it, Flotilla can also be rewarding and entertaining.

There are some flaws, but taken as a package Heavy Rain is a remarkable achievement in gaming that creates an interactive experience that goes beyond the pages of a good novel or film noir. This is a game that needs to be experienced.

Reverse of Arcadia doesn't bring anything too new to the table when it comes to dueling itself, but the added character movement, massive amounts of cards to acquire, in-depth tutorials to read over, online multiplayer, and a duel calculator for real card duels are all part of an excellent package that any true Yu-Gi-Oh fan should own.

The campaign is super-short (clocking in at a little under an hour from start to finish), but this is a game that is meant to be played over and over again. Just don't expect much in the way of innovation.

There's not much more to say. Pass on this one unless you are the most hardcore of RPG players. Even then stop and reassess if you're really sure about this. Maybe go for a walk and clear your head. If you're still determined, have at it. You are one of the special few.

Point-and-click absurdity that places the order of completion before player creativity.

Risen loses a bit in the porting process to the Xbox 360, but aside from the technical shortcomings, this is still a pretty solid experience that brings some good things to the RPG table.

Seems more like a randomized assortment than a collection of “Classics,” as evidence by very notable absences.

Even though the episode is pretty short, there is some good replay value here and the added multiplayer elements are a nice touch. All in all, this is a worthy investment for fans of the original game.

If you're a fan of B-movies and want to invite a few friends over to create your own Mystery Science Theater 3000-style dialogue-or even if you're on solo mode looking for a great story at the cost of palatable gameplay-this is a one-of-a-kind title and you owe it to yourself to pick it up. At a retail price of $19.99, you can't beat Deadly Premonition's cheap laughs and unique story. But if you're looking for a straightforward, next-gen gaming experience, avoid this one at all costs.

While the game’s single-player campaign isn’t as fleshed out as we would’ve hoped and the mechanics have been overly simplified, the game’s solid multiplayer definitely gives it some long-lasting legs.

Sega and Rebellion don’t offer much of a unique experience to attract gamers who have been up to their eyeballs in video games since the holidays.

A lot of promise mixed in with failed execution is what riddles Aliens vs. Predator.

A lot of promise mixed in with failed execution is what riddles Aliens vs. Predator.

Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth gets props for changing up the setting and providing a new protagonist for the franchise. However, the gameplay is pretty standard for the Ace Attorney series, and brings with it the same flaws from other entries.

Whatever you do, don’t lose your palace or else it’s game over. Hire secret police, win over the militarists and build up army as the KB, the CIA and rebels will make several assassination attempts to call the end of your reign. It’s this type of problem solving that makes Tropico 3 a rich title with plenty of things to do.

Be prepared for many yawns and questions of, “What better is there to do with my time?”

Back on track, Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce is a huge improvement over what the past installments have offered.

There’s no doubt that Korg DS-10 Plus is more application than game, but this speaks more to the intended audience rather than the quality of the product itself. Musicians will be hard-pressed to find a better piece of software for their DS.

It is the sixth overall expansion for the game (Adventure Packs don’t count; neither do live updates), and while it does add elements, it is lacking in that sense of adventure that has marked some earlier expansions.

Capcom would do well to treat its faithful with the respect we deserve. In the end, it’s best to object and hope the judges that be serve up a better port of the Phoenix Wright series.

By combining addictive gameplay with simple controls and throwing in two fun multiplayer modes for good measure, Shin’en aims to please.

Percy Jackson might not make a splash when it comes to movie tie-in games, but fans of turn-based combat might find some redeeming qualities in this otherwise bare-bones game.

If the single-player portion only holds your attention for a while, the multiplayer part has enough to offer to make you want to come back from time to time. It's a great way to kill a few minutes, but you will probably not play it for hours on end.

Bioshock 2 is an atmospheric, immersive game that does more than just hold a candle to its beloved predecessor. The campaign is engaging, the multiplayer is great, and the new gameplay elements are excellent.

Bioshock 2 is an atmospheric, immersive game that does more than just hold a candle to its beloved predecessor. The campaign is engaging, the multiplayer is great, and the new gameplay elements are excellent.

Bioshock 2 is an atmospheric, immersive game that does more than just hold a candle to its beloved predecessor. The campaign is engaging, the multiplayer is great, and the new gameplay elements are excellent.

With its wit and charm, there’s nothing else like Shiren the Wanderer. It’s one-of-a-kind and praiseworthy.

The game starts out with a bang, with vision and a challenge, and then becomes more of the same, over and over. The bosses get tougher, the objectives are more defined, but aside from going back and trying again at a tougher difficulty level, once through the game, there is not much reason to go back.

Step & Roll is a “step” in the right direction since the game is embracing the other peripherals available for the Wii. There are plenty of gamers that have the Balance Board sitting around collecting dust and now Monkey Ball is an excuse to get it out. However, just take a deep breath and remember that the sensitivity and accuracy might be too much at times.

While you might not want to double dip if you've already purchased the 360 version, this is a great one for PS3 owners who missed out when the game hit the 360 last year.

While I enjoyed playing Max & The Magic Marker on the PC, the overall experience felt cheapened by the fact it controlled better on the Wii and was priced higher than it should have been.

Though missing a multiplayer component, Chime has a fun gameplay style that will have players wanting to beat their own scores way past after clearing the grids a 100 percent.

Minor quibbles aside, this is an atmospheric and desolate experience that fans of the series will want to jump into.

White Knight Chronicles has several faulty elements, but the game is long (the original released in Japan a couple of years back was estimated at 100 hours – but it can be done in between 65 and 80) and the story is decently layered making for a nice bit of J-RPG gaming.

Bermuda Triangle never really becomes terribly challenging, opting for a more casual pace and simple gameplay that will appeal to gamers of a more casual mindset.

One last kick to the armor-shielded gut: If you are currently playing the game using a trial version you downloaded prior to it being made unavailable, be warned that in-game voice chat may now be interrupted by audio ads-a stinky (though gutsy) move to "encourage" subscriptions.

The game looks good, and there has been a lot of thought placed in the amount of design options. However, there just isn't a lot of personality to make it stand out from the rest of the pack.

Fast Food Panic will likely appeal more to young players than real cooks, as the skills aren’t terribly authentic and the gameplay is far too repetitive. At best, it is a short-term diversion for casual party game lovers.

Blood Bowl is a missed opportunity as evidenced by the potential of the source on which it’s based. If you really want to get into the depth and fun of Blood Bowl, you’re better off checking out the board game.

Mass Effect 2 is much more than a game. It’s an ominous sci-fi-mystery-action-epic that continues to provide thrilling moments around every bend.

Desperate Struggle is so unpredictable it's like the punch line to a parody of Japanese pop culture. Frantic and all over the map, it somehow makes it all work and gives Wii owners an amazing game for an older audience – a rare treat to find on Nintendo's console.

There’s a lot to experience here as the total package was intelligently crafted. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is a glimpse at what the future holds for Capcom and utilizing the Nintendo Wii platform.

It's such an uneven and eventually tiring experience, I think this is a good foundation on which to build a franchise, its just they need to make it so much more.

Dark Void can be summed up in just six words: so much potential, so much disappointment.

Dark Void can be summed up in just six words: so much potential, so much disappointment.

Shattered Memories was an attempt at doing something different with the Silent Hill series. Unfortunately, just because something is different doesn't mean it's better.

Glory of Heracles is a workhorse RPG that doesn’t do much to stand out against far superior RPGs on the system. The story is uninteresting, the gameplay is bland, and the whole affair is far too easy.

This is a good time for a good price.

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.

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.

Although it was mostly a bore, the combat was ‘stupid’ enough for two players to take pleasure from watching the train-wreck.

Although it was mostly a bore, the combat was ‘stupid’ enough for two players to take pleasure from watching the train-wreck.

Sega took some steps in the right direction with Vancouver 2010, but the overall absence of that intangible feeling that The Olympics ignites within most people is still vividly obvious.

Far more infuriating than entertaining. RPG fans can find plenty of alternatives.

Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces fully captures the antithetical beauty of aerial warfare and matches it with an engaging story about wealth, greed and their reliance on death. Flaws aside, at $29.99, it’s the best flight game on Wii.

Walk It Out targets lazy people who enjoy playing video games but instead of spending the money to purchase this game, you can partake in the exact same thing by leaving the house and walking around the neighborhood for FREE. This game has a decent concept, but without any real variation and the control issues, it doesn't travel far.

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.

If you could rent it, that'd be the best way to experience Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond. Since you can't, only one question remains: are you willing to spend $15 on a very short game you may only want to play through once?

THQ and Vigil Games did an outstanding job creating an intellectual property that has weight. The voice-acting is top-notch, the combat is exquisite, the replay value is high, and the world they have created is fascinating. Darksiders is a marvelous way to start out 2010.

THQ and Vigil Games did an outstanding job creating an intellectual property that has weight. The voice-acting is top-notch, the combat is exquisite, the replay value is high, and the world they have created is fascinating. Darksiders is a marvelous way to start out 2010.

Bravo, PlatinumGames. You've made a game and created a heroine that gives Dante a reason to cry.

Bravo, PlatinumGames. You've made a game and created a heroine that gives Dante a reason to cry.

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.

While it doesn't quite match up to Rondo of Blood or Super Castlevania IV, due in large part to being about half as long as those games, ReBirth is an enjoyable old-school Castlevania experience that's worth the 1,000-Nintendo Point cost. Any fan of the series should pick it up.

A solid PSN title with good entertainment value. Don’t expect to be captivated for hours, though. Revenge of the Wounded Dragon is one of those titles that is fun unless too much time is spent playing it and then it becomes more tedious and repetitious than enjoyable. Taken in small doses, the game is entertaining.

A bland and uninspired rip-off, steer clear of this one.

As part of the bigger picture, ToMI:5 finally draws the tale to a close, bringing satisfaction to everyone who has played all the other chapters up until now. Yes, it is short, but it handles the material well and is a must-buy for any series fans.

A very disappointing game from start to finish, Rogue Warrior is a game that brings nothing new to the genre nor does it make for a fun first-person shooter worth the money. Simply put, this isn’t just an awful shooter but it’s also a terrible game.

Avatar: The Game is a title of tradeoffs. It has the base concepts to be more than it ended up being and yet it is still manages to provide a decent gaming experience. That it has a strong movie tie-in is certain to spark interest in this title.

Avatar: The Game is a title of tradeoffs. It has the base concepts to be more than it ended up being and yet it is still manages to provide a decent gaming experience. That it has a strong movie tie-in is certain to spark interest in this title.

A wonderful foundation has been set and it’s now time for Rainbow Studios to expand on what they have set up with their next iterations. The future is bright and fans should be rejoicing.

A wonderful foundation has been set and it’s now time for Rainbow Studios to expand on what they have set up with their next iterations. The future is bright and fans should be rejoicing.

The fighting engine is still amazing, and there's a ton of fun to be had. The drastically lowered load times, and portability of the system make this a compelling option even when compared to the console versions.

A thoroughly enjoyable and action-filled story, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned should be on the top of your Must Download list for those who want to extend their Borderlands experience. It’s offbeat and comical but you will have a great time so if you own the game you should certainly download this mission.

I think it's a good sophomore title from the people at Neocore. Not everyone is going to be able to play it because it is so tough, but for those gamers who have the ability, they will be happy.

It's a value title and you could certainly do worse than buying this game, but it is such a simplistic game, I could only play it in short bursts.

The Big Air Edition of Stoked makes for a bigger and somewhat better game that makes for a far more complete and completely gratifying snowboarding game for the Xbox 360. There are still a few issues that really haven't been improved in this version but we are still looking at one addictive snowboarding game well worth buying.

Another fun addition to the Yu-Gi-Oh! series. Just don't expect anything you haven't seen before.

Assassin's Creed II is more than a great sequel because it does things the first game couldn't even hope to accomplish. There are tons of surprises in store, so if you enjoyed the original – or even if you only kind of liked it – this is one of those sequels that absolutely must be played.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is a good on-rails shooter, but it’s only a decent sequel.

The board brings the franchise to life in remarkable ways. There is a decent variety of game modes and the ‘80s look is a nice touch.

The board brings the franchise to life in remarkable ways. There is a decent variety of game modes and the ‘80s look is a nice touch.

The board brings the franchise to life in remarkable ways. There is a decent variety of game modes and the ‘80s look is a nice touch.

This is my favorite multiplayer game of all time. If I had another child I would name it Ellis whether it was a boy or girl.

LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues is a far superior sequel and a truly enjoyable LEGO title that gamers of all ages will relish on their Xbox 360. Thanks to the new level editor and loads of levels that span the four Indy films, this is the LEGO Indiana Jones game you will definitely want to buy.

Just Dance has all the right ideas, but all the wrong mechanics. Below average graphics and a flawed rating system were the difference in this game coming more dud than hit.

The game is far from perfect but it’s easy to look past the flaws when the game is too fun to even want to put down.

Like any good fighting game, Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 thrives on multiplayer action. It stumbles in a few areas, and is certainly one of the more repetitive fighters released this year. But it's also a really good game that, when played with others, can be very addictive.

An absolute no-brainer for those who missed out the first time, the God of War Collection packs two phenomenal titles into one great package for a bargain price. Even if you have played them before, the visual and framerate upgrade is well worth it.

Generic at best, Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines is a great example of what can be done on the PSP visually, but should in no way be considered an example of great gameplay.

Scene It? features plenty of movie trivia factoids to keep cinemaphiles happy, but a dearth of features (no online play?!?) and the availability of other, better trivia games for PlayStation 3 makes me doubt that this was ever intended for the big screen to begin with.

The Princess and the Frog successfully conveys the lighthearted spirit of the original film, and presents itself as something completely approachable for young girls. Given the film’s surprisingly nuanced composition, it is only regrettable that some deeper elements weren’t put into play for older audiences.

Varied alien races with different needs and requests means each play through will require different strategies, giving the game a great amount of replay value.

Excellent controls, mechanics and ball physics designed for a sports game that is very easy to grasp.

Excellent controls, mechanics and ball physics designed for a sports game that is very easy to grasp.

With World Adventures, the Sims 3 receives one of its greatest expansions. If you’re a fan of the original, there’s little doubt that you’ll want this in your collection.