If only the battle system, so integral to the enjoyment of a game, wasn't so blasé, Shadow Hearts could have easily jumped up into one of the best surprise games of the year.

This game was made for fans of Ben 10, by fans of Ben 10, those who don't know the rich and varied backstory will be left scratching their heads with the plot but those who know will be rewarded with a strong title.

Assault on Dark Athena is a great deal for players, as it gives those PS3 owners who missed out on the phenomenal Escape from Butcher Bay the chance to check it out in HD, with a host of perks. However, based solely on the strength of these perks, it’s a bit harder to recommend for those who played through Riddick’s first console game.

Props for the implementation of the voice command controls.

A game that seems to have some strong ties to the arcade look and sound, but manages to overcome that with some depth of gameplay.

The excitement of playing the game for the first time, its replay value, and satisfying driving and racing styles are completely intact.

This game is extremely fun and entertaining, but a couple of points had to go due to some camera and graphics issues which couldn’t be overlooked.

There is a lot of solid game play here, great challenges and a persistent online world that is as intriguing as it is inviting.

A fun game if you enjoy hunting or hunting titles, but it probably won’t have enough to bring the casual player into it and keep them hooked for the long run … like myself.

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.

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

When a game is as much to play as the first Lumines then it’s hard to accept limited imitations packaged as new editions.

This Nintendo DS version isn't anywhere near the quality (or originality) of the console versions, but if you can accept it as a good racing game and not another version of GRID, you'll enjoy it very much.

Gamers new and old school, Namco Museum Battle Collection is the closest you’ll get to finding a time machine and going back to the days when games were simple but still downright addictive.

The free-form style of play keeps things fresh but don’t go into this one expecting to be blown away.

I found with the limitless possibilities for strategy coupled with the multiplayer capability to be a game with a pretty decent shelf life.

For those that love the game, enjoy the behind-the-scenes management, embrace the mental challenge, like the statistical bombardment, and thrive on situational strategy, this is the game for you.

Draglade has a really unique premise that will keep players attention for a while, especially with the multiplayer aspects.

Sacred 2 is a solid game that offers PS3 owners a quality dungeon-crawling game that it was lacking. However, just be prepared to get your hands dirty if you really want to fully understand everything in the game.

For those that love the game, enjoy the behind-the-scenes management, embrace the mental challenge, like the statistical bombardment, and thrive on situational strategy, this is the game for you.

With a lengthy yet entertaining campaign mode, Rainbow Six: Lockdown manages to pull off the best Rainbow Six game on the GameCube.

For simulation fans and hardcore railroad simulation fans, Railroad Pioneer will fit right in with your collection. Who knows, maybe the Pioneer can become the new Tycoon?

Graphically, this is a remarkable program...The action can be very unrealistic, just in terms of physical reality, and that is a major drawback.

A game with this much humor should put a smile on anyone’s face. But the smile could fade away with some of the gameplay limitations.

This is a game that is somewhat eerie and evolving, but the mood is broken by the interface and even the sightjack feature, while an intriguing concept, detracts from the mood.

If you’re still one of the die-hard wrestling junkies who just can get enough then you will fall in love with Total Extreme Wrestling 2008. You will probably find just the right combination of insane stories, unusual angles and hardcore matches to let you create your ultimate wrestling fantasy.

If there is a drawback to the game it lies in that the AI is not overly strong. Considering that the enemy is engaged in a firefight of enormous proportions, running straight into a gun, or standing immobile with backs to the approaching shooter seems a little ridiculous.

The biggest problem with WMMA is the lack of fighters, organizations, and content in the database. It becomes a big problem when all your biggest fighters have all faced off against each other and the only thing left to do is throw them in there with weaker opponents just to be able to fill a card.