If you are a Giana Sisters fan from way back, then you will no doubt grab this one. For everyone else I recommend trying out the demo, to see if you will enjoy it. It's not terrible or broken by any means, it just not groundbreaking or memorable. It will be fun for some, but a headache for others.

Omerta: City of Gangsters feels like a game that’s half way there in execution. The empire building aspect is a whole lot of fun, and seems to be more thought out than the combat. It doesn’t help that the combat is similar to XCOM, and that XCOM did it way better. But the empire building half of the gameplay is really promising, and something that deserves to be expanded on more.

Atelier Totori Plus is one of the deepest, most enjoyable games I've played on the Vita, and that's all there is to it.

The whole 16-bit SNES thing may be a little overdone these days, but Terraria captures the vibe of that era so perfectly that it's almost impossible to not love its aesthetic. A pleasing aesthetic, however, does not a great game make. You need to have compelling gameplay as well, and — while I can certainly see where some people may disagree with me on this — Terraria just doesn't have that.

It’s a well-crafted experience that’s certainly more than the sum of its parts, even if those parts are by and large pretty damn good. It’s a satisfying and intriguing experience from top to bottom, and something that’s well worth checking out.

In the end, Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel has nothing to do with the previous two entries, does little to invite gamers back, and does even less to really excite anyone for a future title.

Resident Evil 6 PC is arguably the definitive version of the game – best graphics, all-inclusive, best multiplayer backbone – and obviously worthy of a playthrough if you’re PC-only gamer. However, if you played the console version last year (our review here), it’s probably not worth double-dipping and it still handles best on a controller.

If you already own another version of Dead or Alive 5, there isn't enough new material here to recommend a purchase unless you are die hard fan and want a portable version.

Overall, this is definitely a sequel worth checking out. Even if you’re not familiar with the original GameCube title, there’s a good chance you’ll find something to love about the sequel.

Overall, it's not worth a double dip if you own the game on another system, but if you have a younger child and/or are really interested in jumping in, I do highly recommend the Wii U version.

For me, this has been the deepest and most rewarding Tiger Woods PGA Tour title I’ve ever played.

Graphics are recreated to perfection.

There’s a hefty amount of content in place for your money.

The only real complaint I can file against the game, is that once again I do not care for underwater combat.

Beyond one particularly challenging battle which takes place towards the very end of the game, Ascension is action-packed though not especially difficult. The boss encounters are definitely as epic as expected, even if they seem more few and far between in comparison to other God of War games.

In most other circumstances, I might be put off by the game's extreme difficulty, since I usually gravitate towards games that require the least amount of sustained effort…yet in this case, every death just spurred me to try again so that I might get a tiny bit further. Likewise, I'm not usually a fan of endless running games…yet, again, Runner 2 is a clear exception, with so much extra added in that it seems like comparing it to Canabalt or Temple Run does it a huge disservice.

If you've already made the commitment to keep downloading these packs, this one has 3 great games that will provide a great challenge. If you were disappointed by the launch release, these games might just turn you into a fan.

There is magic here, but after hitting the ceiling so often I can't recommend this game to many people without a list of caveats to warn them first. It's gorgeous, and a time sink, but the more you come to understand it, the less you wish you knew.

Motocross action is what the game promises, and motocross action is precisely what it delivers.

Despite some of the technical flaws and the lackluster multiplayer content, Judgment isn’t a complete bust. The campaign is a blast to play through, echoes the original game nicely, and gives a neat little side-story that doesn’t add much plot wise, but also ends up being a welcome departure from what we’ve seen so far.

A ton of love, care, and attention, not only to the fundamentals, but to what the fans have been clamoring for have been answered in spades. The end result is in not only the best version this series has seen, and not only the most authentic and realistic baseball game created to date, but easily one of the best sports games this reviewer has ever played.

It doesn’t take very long to go through the 10 wells offered, and while some of the optional objects are worth unlocking, they don’t add enough to the core game to make it worth coming back for more without that added incentive of competing against others.

The price is right for what you get here, so if you are a fan of games like this, by all means give the demo a spin. If frantic combo filled beat-em-ups aren't your thing, then skip this one and wait for the 2D fighter.

In the end, it’s worth playing through if you got it free from a pre-order deal when DmC was purchased. But I honestly don’t think it’s worth the $10 asking price.

All in all, as a digital re-release for $20, you can’t go wrong with Brutal Legend PC. At the very least, you’ll appreciate its soundtrack, characters, and metal-inspired world… The game could be considered a bonus and it'd still be worthwhile.

It’s a more inventive take than you usually see for licensed anime titles, and smartly evolves past the standard, overwrought storyline retreads typically used.

All in all, this Tomb Raider reboot isn’t perfect. But it is a step in the right direction for the series, and again marks the most fun I’ve had with a Tomb Raider title in a while. It’s got enough of that AAA polish to make it a contender, but I feel that the series is going to need some fresh ideas if it really wants to compete with the big hitters.

For this entry into the series, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate is a fun ride and will take you some time to accomplish. It also looks good, especially for being on a handheld, and will provide you with more of the Belmont history than you could find on Ancestry.com, just don’t expect your brain to think the words Castlevania while you play it.

Capcom Arcade Cabinet is a fine example of a true classic collection. The DLC packs and a few strange games may scare some away from getting this one.

Bottom line, this is just a bad, bad game, and there's no reason whatsoever why you should even consider buying it.

If you’re a fan of either the anime or manga then you owe it to yourself to pick this up. And even if you’re not a Naruto super fan, I think you’ll be surprised by how much fun this game has to offer.

In other words, it won't win Game of the Year, but it will keep you playing for awhile — and really, what more can a game do?

I'd say that if you really love the game, and aren't too particular about the framerate, then this is worth picking up. And for those of you new to the game, or series even, looking for something new to play on the Vita, you could definitely do worse.

But for everyone else, Etrian Odyssey IV offers more of what you already love about the series, just this time it’s a little prettier in action.

I should emphasize, however, that while these flaws exist, they're really fairly minor. They certainly didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of Rocketbirds and, I suspect, they won't hurt anyone else's enjoyment of it either. You'll forget about them pretty quickly, and you'll be left with the memory of a smart, funny inventive game long after you're done.

Overall Crysis 3 is just what you would expect at the end of a generation cycle. A FPS that is deep not only in its level design and scope, but tells a deep story, with deep game play mechanics. You will not find many games that do it all in one fell swoop.

Even with Boba’s table being lackluster, the other two tables make Star Wars Pinball worthy of a purchase for certain and remains a must buy not only for pinball fans, but Star Wars fans alike. With the promise of more tables to come in the not too distant future, it’s a welcome surprise to have Star Wars enter in the realm of the Zen Pinball universe and I for one couldn’t be happier.

I would definitely suggest avoiding Aliens: Colonial Marines entirely or at least just rent it if you feel like you need to experience it yourself. Certainly don’t buy it.

Since this isn't your usual Sam Stone outing and not even your usual platform shooter, it may seem like a risk at first, but once you play it, you'll be hooked on Serious Sam DD XXL. At 800MSP… this is one of those games that just, feels right.

Whether you enjoy or dislike the dumb, loud action provided by the script, I find it hard to believe that you wouldn’t fall in love with the well-crafted gameplay that fills the void between cutscenes. It’s a remarkable experience.

Rather, you'll want to avoid playing a game in public that features a scene just a few minutes in that seems like it could get you put on some kind of sex offender registry. Instead, download Corpse Party: Book of Shadows, turn off all the lights in your house, put on some good headphones, and enjoy. And try not to play before meals, because it's definitely going to spoil your appetite.

Sure Dead Space 3 is familiar, but fans wouldn't have it any other way. If you have been in love since the first entry, then you already probably own this game and don’t need my opinion. On the other hand, if you have played the previous two and weren't sold, there’s nothing that is going to change your mind here to make you a convert, unless of course there’s a marker nearby…

If you’re not a fan of those types of games, this won’t be the one to draw you in, unless you have some obscene love for source material. But as a DW fan, like me, you’ll get hours of enjoyment out of the face punching, body exploding ridiculousness that Ken’s Rage 2 delivers.

Mechanically it could be a better game, sure, but it’s still definitely a game worth playing.

All that said, I got a lot of enjoyment out of the EDF 2017 Portable. What's more, I expect to continue to get lots of enjoyment out of it into the future. From that point of view, it's hard to argue that the game isn't worthwhile. So if you don't mind paying a slightly steep premium to get some building-destroying, bug-blasting fun on your handheld, then take the plunge and download this game immediately.

Skulls of the Shogun offers up a fairly unique take on what we’ve come to expect from turn-based strategy titles, and its use of a unique movement structure and simplified unit types makes this a far more accessible venture than most titles in the same genre. But that accessibility doesn’t come at the cost of challenge, which later stages certainly prove. Combine that with a fun, but bare online mode and you’ve got a new XBLA title that’s definitely worth a look.

After a nearly 8 year hiatus, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is a worthy 4th installment in the Sly Cooper series (especially for under $40), and Sanzaru Games did a great job picking up where Sucker Punch left off. Overall, it's an interesting take on the Sly formula, though ultimately, a fairly safe one.

From a gameplay experience this feels like a greatly refined version of the last few titles, with a boost in presentation to push the franchise even further. 3DS owners will be doing themselves a favor by picking this up.

It won't blow your favorites in the genre out of the water, but it'll satisfy an itch you might not have realized existed.

The horrible online mode and the somewhat high price tag (1600 MSP, $15 PSN) are speed bumps that might put off some gamers, but, if you do decide to take the plunge and download this one, you will like most of what you get.

It may not be the best game you'll ever play on the system, but it's guaranteed to be one of the games that makes you fully appreciate what the handheld has to offer.

The Cave has a handful of faults, sure, but the overall experience is well worth checking out.

It's an entertaining romp in a side genre to RPG's that doesn't get enough love nowadays, and is well worth that digital asking price, provided you haven't played the PSP version already.

There's some annoyance to be had with the cutscenes, loading, and platforming bits, but the core action gameplay that's become synonymous with Devil May Cry still stands out as some of the best in the business.

If, for whatever reason, you haven't played Burn The Rope before, then by all means download it to your Vita, because you'll definitely get your $4 worth. But honestly, if you have played it before, then there's no way that on-screen turning, rear touch zooming, and the promise of up to 16 trophies make it worth picking up again.

Skip the demo, shell out the cash (which isn't much at 400 MSP or $5) and jump right in, you won't be disappointed!

Overall Anarchy Reigns is definitely worth a look. There's a substantial amount of content present for the asking price, and the overall feel of the game is pretty polished. The combat aspect that drives the single and online play feels really solid, with easy to pick up and understand movesets for characters that don't feel like cookie cutter copy and paste jobs, featuring strong art direction and a fantastic soundtrack to wrap it all up.

Sonic The Fighters may be simple and easy to play, but it's too obscure to ignore. The cheap price and overall strangeness of the title is good enough to warrant a purchase.

In the end, the fun, fast gameplay and incredibly cheap $5/400 MSP price makes this a must have. Don't even try the demo here, just download it, you will not regret it.

I can't say, in all honesty, that it's an approach that speaks to me (I like my games to be obvious and linear, darnit!), but I can say that if you're the type of person who can appreciate the journey as much as the destination in a game, then Knytt Underground should be well worth your time and money.

I applaud the effort of making this type of game on the Vita because I want to see more in this genre, but I can't blatantly support a game that's not very much fun to play.

Overall, Labyrinth Legends feels like an interesting attempt at boiling down the dungeon aspect of an adventure game to its core, and for the most part manages to be fun and pretty straight forward.

Under Defeat HD has that special charm that is either loved or hated by shmup fans. Its different controls and high difficulty may be too heavy for those new to the genre, but veterans will feel right at home here.

In the end, NBA 2K13 is another great release from the folks at 2K Sports. Aside from the confusing menus, the strange inclusion of the Celebrity Team, and the somewhat awkward controls, it's a fully functional Basketball sim with some nice features.

Ubisoft's balance of open world gameplay and FPS action really hits the mark, and overall the game does a fantastic job in providing players with an interesting, immersive gaming experience.

As it is, the game ends far to quickly and seems like it might have been rushed to market.

Without any clear sense of purpose or direction, Page Chronica ends up falling flat, which is a shame, because with a core idea like the one it has, it could have been a contender for my game of the year.

Overall, Sine Mora is really an amazing game. Simple in it's gameplay, but challenging enough for even the hardcore Bullet Hell Players.

It's a pretty well realized effect, and ends up being the sole, standout feature of the entire experience. A game with better, unique mechanics in this setting would have been great, but unfortunately Black Knight Sword's tepid hack and slash platforming brings down an otherwise decent downloadable title on PSN and XBLA.

The combat, while competent, is hardly the selling point of the game. The mechanics in place here aren't the thing that causes Crimson Shroud to really stand out, despite its unique use of tabletop RPG elements that are rarely seen on the surface level of most video games. It's really the superb presentation, writing, and music that will sell you on Crimson Shroud, and make it one of the best E-Shop titles available on the 3DS.

With legendary game developer Warren Spector overseeing the game and iterating upon the things that worked in the first game while fixing those that didn't, I had high hopes this sequel would be one of the great games of the holiday. Unfortunately the end result is a game that I like even less than the original. There's a reason you'll see this game on sale at retailers already – it's not all that enjoyable. Buy with caution.

Fun graphics and a good soundtrack can help make a good game even better. As When Vikings Attack demonstrates, however, no amount of either can cover up a massive lack of content.

Pid is not only fun and challenging, but nice to look at as well. It's one of those games that needs to be experienced first hand as screenshots and video will not do it justice. If you are still on the fence, I recommend trying out the demo as always to see if it's a good fit for you.

The biggest problem with a game this deep is that all the distractions prevent you from actually getting through the campaign, which I admit is fairly bizarre (and could be a very subjective criticism.) I kept thinking that playing through certain aspects were either required or would benefit me, when they actually weren't, and I could have just as easily blitzed through the campaign.

I definitely think the game is worth checking out, provided the online issues get fixed quickly enough.

All I can say is if you're a maniac for Sherlock Holmes stories or adventure games, then there's going to be something here for you. I'm not sure what I'd call it, but it's definitely something.

Overall this is one sick Marvel Pinball table that once again shows the creativity and thinking outside the box that makes Zen Studios stand on their own when it comes to creating virtual pinball tables. This of course leads to my no brainer conclusion – if you have Pinball FX2, Marvel Pinball or Zen Pinball 2, BUY IT!

Overall I was extremely impressed by what ZombiU brought to the table for Wii U owners. It's a fantastically tense horror experience, and one of the best zombie themed games I've had the pleasure of playing.

It's certainly great that Insomniac Games wanted to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Ratchet & Clank series with a fresh new gameplay experience. Sadly, Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault doesn't totally work. It's possible that the PS Vita will be a more natural fit for the game, and we expect to spend some time with that version when it is released.

So there you have it: a sequel 25 years in the making that was crowd funded and released digitally for $15. Well played, Black Forest (no pun intended).

I can't really consider Absolution to be a must buy sort of title, but it's worth checking out as a curiosity rental at least. There are elements here that I like, and things that do harken back to the traditional Hitman experience, but this is about as far off the rails as the series has managed to get. Hopefully the next entry tries to reign in the foreign concepts a little more, because this hardly feels like the right direction to take the series in.

Jeopardy! is definitely the egghead's game show, but there is a reason it's been around longer than me. It's not only fun, but you just might learn something. Just like Wheel of Fortune by the same dynamic duo released at the same time, Jeopardy is easily the most faithful and accurate recreation of the popular game show over to don a console. If you are a fan of game shows and especially Jeopardy, this game's under $30 price tag is as simple as "What is a Steal?"

So if you've been disappointed in the past with previous versions of Wheel of Fortune, then your puzzle solving prayers have been answered as this is indeed the most faithful and accurate port from the TV show to video game ever. There is nothing that was left out, and if the promise of providing more puzzles with downloadable content comes to fruition, then not only is this title worth the $29 price tag (or even less), but could easily be a steal to diehard fans of the game show that gamers of all ages can enjoy.

The voice acting is all wonderfully done, especially Death. He's such a great character and is very funny throughout the game, especially in the way he deals with some of the side-quests that characters give him. If you already own the game, there's very little incentive to picking up the Wii U version, but if you've held off or never had the means to buy it until now, I highly recommend the purchase.

If you've never had a chance to play Arkham City and are looking for a fun action/adventure game that has awesome combat, fun exploration, and an excellent presentation, you can't go wrong with Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition. The game has enough content to keep you busy for over twenty hours and is entertaining from beginning to end.

I absolutely endorse picking up LEGO The Lord of the Rings, whether you're a big fan of the film series or the LEGO games. Your appreciation of the story will certainly hinge on whether you're a LOTR fan or not, but regardless of that you'll still have a whole lot of fun with this unique video game adaptation. It's a blast to play through in single player and in local co-op, and despite a busy holiday season for gaming, really shouldn't be missed.

I can't foresee Silent Hill: Book of Memories winning any Game of the Year awards, nor should it, but if you're in the mood for solidly reliable horror on the go, this should be more than enough to scratch that itch.

Even lacking a bit of polish, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is an impressive piece of work especially for PlayStation fans and those fond of Nintendo's Super Smash Bros series. It's fun and easy to get into, and offers enough local and online multiplayer fighting action to keep PS3 and PS Vita players interested for quite some time.

This is absolutely, without a doubt, one of the best gaming experiences of the year. It's still just a little too early to toss around GOTY nominations, but there's no doubt in my mind that The Walking Dead will be on a short list for a number of critics when those considerations start to make their rounds.

In the end, I feel like Warriors Orochi 3 is still a great game, but Hyper Edition certainly isn't a standout port.

It's certainly a game that can be fun with a group, but as a single player experience I found it lacking. It does a great job of showcasing new system elements, but also comes up short in fully realizing that theme park look Nintendo was going for.

All in all, I found New Super Mario Bros. U to be a very rewarding, fun breath of fresh air for the series that does a pretty good job of showcasing new elements found in the Wii U system. It's certainly a step up in terms of visuals, and looks great both on the big screen and on the Wii U Game Pad.

So if you've had the pleasure of playing the game previously, rest assured you'll have an equally hard time putting it down on the Vita, much like the original on PS2. And for new players, I envy the ability to go into this game fresh again, because it's really one of the best RPG experiences of the past two console generations. For either or, previous Persona 4 players or newcomers, this is one Vita game that can't be missed.

If you're not looking for a game that shows off the Wii U's unique properties (other than the off-screen play for multiplayer) and just want a time killer with some decently fun on-couch multiplayer, then run out and buy this game. For the rest of you, I recommend waiting for a price drop or a weekend rental.

It's a great call back to classic SEGA characters and franchises, and provides a heavy emphasis on fan service while maintaining a level of quality not often seen in kart racers outside of the Nintendo developed ones. It seriously feels like a love letter to long-time SEGA fans, and is certainly worth picking up.

I'm not going to go so far as to say that this it the best Call of Duty yet, but I certainly find myself more compelled to spend a lot more time with this than I did Modern Warfare 3. Both the campaign and multiplayer portions of the game feel like a step above the previous entry, and if early sales and online player base are any indication, this is going to be the game your friends will playing for months to come. So if you're on the fence, I'd definitely suggest picking this up, it delivers enough changes to keep the series relevant and fun, while retaining everything that makes Call of Duty what you've come to expect.

Overall, Thundercats on the Nintendo DS is definitely a dud. I've not played a more lackluster licensed action game in quite a while, and it sort of breaks my heart to see one of my classic kid cartoon franchises get treated with such little care. This is little more than a quick cash grab on a recognizable name, and you'd do well to avoid this at all costs.

Overall, Karateka is not a fun experience. The whole game feels more like a mini game and less like an action title. Clunky controls and limited gameplay hurt this one badly. Before you know it, the game is over almost before it began. Even if you enjoyed the original, I can't recommend this one.