This is a decent enough game, and for the first 10-20 minutes you may find yourself grimacing at the rag-doll antics of your far-flung friend. Then it gets redundant. The challenge is still there but that is about all the game has going for it once the ‘impact’ of the graphics wears off.

The only two issues are the control scheme is not as good and many gamers might not be able to justify the higher price.

While the game has “style,” it is pretty much broken.

With solid gameplay, a fun story, and a great online component, Undertow is a great addition to anyone’s Xbox Live Arcade library.

I can honestly say that the universe Bioware created is the best I have encountered since George Lucas created Star Wars. Never have I been compelled to find out everything there is to a storyline as I did with Mass Effect.

After having hernia surgery, a friend (seeing how much pain I was in) turned to me and said, “It could always be worse.” Remember that while playing Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash. It could always be worse.

Rock Band is about as much fun as one can have making music in a video game. Sure there are a few flaws that prevent this game from a flawless concert, but to pull all these elements together is a remarkable achievement.

While the build quality of the bundled peripherals feels a little flimsy and the whole thing is a bit pricey for many gamers’ budgets, the game is a wholehearted recommendation for any fan of music-based games.

As a collection, there is something for everyone – up to a certain point. It’s a time-killer, for certain. But don’t expect it to make an entire car trip’s worth of time go by in a flash.

Fun and nostalgic, Ghost Squad delivers hardcore action at a sweet $30 price tag.

The controls are well done; it’s just this novelty can’t keep an otherwise horrible game afloat.

While the controls take some getting used to (especially if you’re a southpaw), there is plenty of fun to be had in Revenant Wings.

Anyone looking for immediate entertainment and lengthy gameplay sessions should consider Galaxies as a must have game for the Wii.

Better than last year’s counterpart, Trauma Center: New Blood is all-around improved. If you’re looking for a quirky game this holiday, I suggest picking up New Blood for the co-op multiplayer component alone.

Swashbucklers: Blue vs. Grey is a strange little game that isn’t terrible by any means, but it’s not really very good, either. While I could definitely see the game developing a (tiny) cult following, every interesting element in the game is balanced out by something bad.

Nearly identical to a game that was released 3 years ago, with almost minimal upgrades. Some aspects have even been taken out or downgraded.

Slow and monotonous.

Only a select few will be hooked for more than a few seasons. John Deere Harvest in the Heartland is extremely addictive but also extremely frustrating – not because the game is challenging or cheap, but because of the inexcusable issues that prevent it from reaching its full potential.

For such a simple puzzle game, Luxor: Pharaoh’s Challenge is surprisingly addictive.

The gameplay isn’t perfect, as the bits of story elements aren’t terribly well-developed and the bot AI in the single player campaign is spotty, but the game still does a fine job of being a compelling and frantic online shooter.

In spite of the glitches, annoyances, and graphics that are nowhere near PS3’s expectations, Airborne is a tremendously thrilling game.

SEGA Rally Revo is a fun arcade racer, but those expecting something with the depth of DiRT will be disappointed.

While not as brilliant or as stunningly beautiful as other first-person shooters already available, TimeShift is still a fun shooter that plays up the action rather well. Despite a disorienting story that will leave gamers confused by the plot, it’s the action and time-manipulating gimmick that will hook gamers in long enough to see it through to the end.

The 2K team has upped the ante when it comes to game mechanics and that makes College Hoops 2K8 an enjoyable and challenging experience.

An engrossing college hoops experience. If you’ve already purchased NBA 2K8 and are apprehensive about getting another baller, give this one a rental.

Button-mashing is strictly generic and offers nothing new for next-gen gamers. The attempts at quick-time events fall flat.

Too flawed and riddled with every first-person shooter cliché out there, Soldier of Fortune: Payback might look good but this is a crude and uninventive shooter hardly worth playing.

The Wii Zapper is a decent peripheral, but it feels cheap. While I question some of the design choices, however, they're easy to get over. Link's Crossbow training is a great introduction into shooting games for those just now getting over Wii Sports.