On the whole, however, Smart As is a fun experience. John Cleese is, as you'd expect, an absolutely fantastic narrator.

Taken purely as a kart racing game, LittleBigPlanet Karting isn't quite the deepest experience out there. Factoring in the Create and Share functionality more than makes up for that lack of depth, if you're into the more creative and community aspects. LittleBigPlanet fans and kart racing fans will definitely enjoy the game and everything it has to offer.

In the end, this feels like a love letter aimed at a very specific group of fans, and I'm sure those fans are thankful for a chance to remember this oft forgotten franchise.

With only two modes to pick from in Just Dance 4, there really isn't much to rave about, and if you own any previous games in the series, there may not be enough new content to warrant a purchase. If you are new to the Just Dance franchise however, it seems like a good jumping off point to try something new. I know I had some fun with it, and I'm pretty sure anyone else who tries it will have fun too.

Overall, Sticker Star is as far removed from Super Paper Mario as that was from The Thousand Year Door. While you might lament the departure the series has taken from its original RPG roots, this hybrid of adventure and action found in Sticker Star stands out as one of the best entries in the series.

To wrap it up, if you enjoyed the first Sports Champions game, or motion controlled sports games in general, Sports Champions 2 is definitely worth a look. Even with only 6 events, the challenging Arcade Mode and very customizable Party Mode along with the wealth of options and unlockables available will keep players busy and moving for many hours.

Considering that Patapon and Patapon 2 are both available in the Vita's PSP store, you're better off saving your money and just picking up both of those instead.

So while I think Painkiller Hell & Damnation is adequate in presentation and gameplay, it's really only suited for those that didn't play the previous releases. The silver lining is that it speaks highly about the endurance of the hold-down-the-fire-button-and-don't-let-go FPSs that started the genre… And hey, it's only $20.

Overall, Ōkami HD is an experience that should not be missed. It's stylized graphics and engaging gameplay really show that this game was ahead of its time with its initial release. Old and new players alike owe it to themselves to download it and either relive the adventure, or experience it for the first time. With its updated visuals and awesome gameplay, this is one that should not be missed.

Overall, I think creating an actual sequel to the existing dual releases seems to be a more interesting approach than simply crafting a third standalone game that offers up refinements but rehashes the general plot and setting, which is pretty much the way handheld Pokémon adventures have operated since the beginning.

Overall, I think creating an actual sequel to the existing dual releases seems to be a more interesting approach than simply crafting a third standalone game that offers up refinements but rehashes the general plot and setting, which is pretty much the way handheld Pokémon adventures have operated since the beginning.

All in all, Medal of Honor: Warfighter is a nice surprise after last year's let down of sorts, and it's nice to see the direction that the studio is going for by blending realism that is inspired by true events but keeping game play mild enough that casual fans won't feel too overwhelmed.

In the end though, I found Ragnarok Odyssey to be a bit of a bore. I was looking forward to my first Monster Hunter clone on the Vita, but came away from this one with a pretty sour taste in my mouth.

All in all Need for Speed: Most Wanted is the Need for Speed game that fans of the series have been clamoring for, for quite some time. It mixes a formula of both old school ideas and new ones, creating an experience that mixes well and will certainly appeal to a wide audience and gear heads. The game is fast, huge, and most importantly…fun, and part of its charm is not taking itself too seriously. Need for Speed is back, and we welcome you with open arms.

The real problem is that 2 Dawn decided to join the ranks of an oversaturated genre and is directly competing with games whose advertising budgets are probably 10x as much as Ravaged's development budget… That's an uphill battle if there ever was one.

Combine the new 3D effect and art style with an intriguing look at Layton's history, along with a story that manages to propel the series forward, and you're left with what I believe to be the best in the series so far.

Worms Revolution may not be a single player game, it may not be the best looking downloadable game on Xbox 360 or PS3, But the downright fun that can be had playing multiplayer more than makes up for any short comings in those departments. Plain and simple, if you are a Worms fan you will enjoy Worms Revolution.

For the most part, I think you'll find Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward to be a step up from 999, and really, that's saying something considering how excellent 999 was. It's not flawless, no, but well worth your time, especially if you're the type of person that enjoys new gaming experiences that are far from the norm.

All in all, Assassin's Creed III Liberation is another excellent console-style release for the PlayStation Vita, and fans of the series who own a PS Vita shouldn't overlook it. It's not as full-featured as the console version, but it makes up for it with a more streamlined experience, an interesting main character and story, and plenty of unique gameplay ideas.

It's also hard to deny that Halo 4 is a hell of a visual step up for the series. Part of that comes from the art design, featuring bright, neon like colors that infuse the new world of Requiem with inorganic life. But the texture work and character models are a step above what Reach produced, and help to show that that 360 still has a trick or two up its sleeve from a power perspective.

There's enough content on disc to justify the purchase, but don't expect any massive gameplay improvements over what WWE '12 had to offer. But from a presentation or story mode angle, this is a huge step up from the previous game, despite the graphical and audio issues.

I much prefer the more traditional fighting experiences offered by games like the Budokai series than this mess of a game, and highly urge you to avoid this one regardless of how big a fan of Dragon Ball Z you might be.

It is such a shame that the gameplay mechanics once again fail Naughty Bear, as there will not many fans willing to give this second hand bear another chance after this.

At the moment there's little on the E-Shop that feels quite like what NightSky has to offer, so I do feel like it's worth checking out, even if it's not quite a flawless experience.

If you own a Kinect, I definitely feel like Fable: The Journey is worth checking out. It works extremely well as a unique, core experience, and considering those experiences are few and far between on Kinect, I think that's saying something. And if you're a Fable fan, you'll definitely find some enjoyment over the setting, characters, and lore offered up here. It's nice to get a Kinect game that actually works every once in a while, and Fable: The Journey certainly works quite well.

Fans of the action found in previous Serious Sam games will find this one fun for a limited time. New players will get frustrated fast and give up after a few deaths. Other than a graphic update, and a few new weapons, there really isn't much new here. It's not an overall bad experience like Duke Nukem Forever turned out to be, it's good, just not mindblowing. The price for the entire package, including the DLC, is also a huge hurdle. I recommend trying out the demo before taking the plunge.

If you're a sucker for artsy indie games that tell an interesting story and feature unique gameplay, then you'll certainly love The Unfinished Swan. If you're not quite sure what you're getting in to, than wait for the demo or check out the trailer at the very least. Either way, The Unfinished Swan is a PSN game worthy of your attention.

Forza Horizon manages to feel like something completely different, while retaining enough of Forza's core identity to make it fit really well into this established franchise. I'd highly suggest checking it out whether you're a Forza fan or just a racing fan in general; I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Despite some of the tough love that XCOM: Enemy Unknown dishes out, it's a game that definitely, absolutely should not be missed.

In the end, Warlords is a fun and challenging game that takes a classic and improves it for today's audience. New players can easily jump right in and start wrecking castles in no time. At just 10 bucks, you really can't go wrong. It's definitely not for every gamer out there, but fans of the original will feel right at home, even with the new features.

The attention to detail given here is admirable, and pretty unexpected, making Retro City Rampage a real treat for retro fans.

I do think that series fatigue is starting to set in a bit, as I wasn't nearly as willing to spend as much time with DC3 as was with the previous titles, but if you're new to the series I have no doubt you'll have a blast with what Dance Central 3 has to offer.

Episode 4 dovetails nicely into what is sure to be a hell of a conclusion, and I'm definitely anticipating the end with a level of anxiety that most episodic releases never manage to evoke.

There's a hefty number of characters and stages to check out, lots of optional side content, and the addition of individualized move sets, special abilities, full stat customization, and more which make for a fun and rewarding throwback to old school beat 'em up fun.

Overall, Carrier Command: Gaea Mission manages to get the concept part of the original 1988 release right, but everything else about the game manages to feel horribly wrong. Gaea Missions poor controls, awful path finding, and ridiculous A.I. keeps this from being any sort of enjoyable experience. I would unfortunately suggest that you avoid this particular title at all costs, as I find little redeemable about the entire experience.

Sonic Adventure 2 is for true Sonic fans that want to relive a time when the series was still fun to play. Despite the terrible camera and some audio hiccups, it's a great experience for old and new players alike. The Chao Garden and great price only add to the overall package making this one a sure fire bet!

Overall, Dishonored is absolutely worth your time, and provides an excellent stealth focused game that's actually fun to play, as opposed to feeling like a punishing chore.

All in all, Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 may be a little too late to catch EA's franchise and crown themselves king in this generation of consoles, but if they can keep this momentum and carry into the next generation of systems, they very well may find themselves at the top of the lot once again. For now, PES 13 is a solid replication of the game of soccer and will certainly find its audience. Those who have played FIFA forever and a day and are looking to switch it up a bit, you may be surprised just how much you love Konami's take on the sport.

I definitely think it's worth checking out, via a demo first if possible, but outside of a really well realized look, and some great presentation, there isn't enough to the gameplay that will keep you coming back for more.

Marvel vs. Capcom Origins brings the fun with 2 classic fighters. If you are a 2D fighting fan, like myself, you will find something to like here.

A somewhat bumpy, uneven ride perhaps, but one that entertains far more than disappoints.

Overall, R.A.W. – Realms of Ancient War is the closest thing to Diablo 3 on consoles so far.

Overall, NBA Baller Beats is a completely serviceable, and generally fun, game to pick up for Kinect owners.

Overall, Supernatural feels like a fun expansion to the core Sims 3 experience, and something that's worth checking out even if you're not super vested in the series, like me. It's a far enough departure from the norm that I found it to be a lot of fun to toy around with.

I definitely feel like if you own a PS3, then you owe it to yourself to check out Tokyo Jungle. It's a game that is almost literally a diamond in the rough, with some so-so visuals and lackluster presentation that doesn't instantly grab the casual observer, but if you manage to sit down with the game for a half hour or so, I think you'll find yourself hooked.

Fans of games like Blazing Angels and Crimson Skies will feel right at home with Dogfight 1942, while players of more in depth simulations like Ace Combat or others with more involved controls might find it too easy.

All in all you can't go wrong picking up this year's FIFA edition, even if you have played for years or this is your first time with the series.

Overall, Dead or Alive 5 is an great fighter, and it's really nice to have another Tecmo fighter land on consoles this gen. It's fresh enough that it easily trumps Dead or Alive 4 in both style and gameplay, but at the same time faces some stiff competition from recently released titles like Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown.

Overall, despite a small number of flaws, Borderlands 2 is well worth picking up. It provides the same action packed, RPG style experience found in the original game, spread across a larger world with lot more stuff to do and explore.

It provides me with more loot whoring action than I can shake a stick at, and doles out a much bigger, more refined experience than the original managed to do. The inclusion of online co-op and offline co-op via LAN is certainly fantastic, but the game is still a blast even if you opt to play through it solo. It'll continue to provide me with hours upon hours of fun, and I look forward to exploring the game more fully in coming months. Definitely pick this one up if you haven't already, it really shouldn't be missed.

If you have a PlayStation Vita, and whether or not it's gathering dust right now, you owe yourself a copy of LittleBigPlanet PS Vita. It's not only a great LittleBigPlanet game and a great Vita game, it's a great game, period.

With a very unique take on the MMO genre, Guild Wars 2 is a great entry into the series.

It is easily one of the best downloadable games to come out this year, and more than worth the price of admission.

NHL 13 is a solid effort and should not be missed by fans of NHL Hockey.

In short, Rock Band Blitz is a musical bargain.

Overall I feel like Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a fairly accessible experience for new players, or those that haven't picked up a Tekken game in years.

Overall, it's a pretty solid port of a fun but flawed game. JSR certainly paved a path for future games with its super-unique art style and soundtrack, but it's hard to say that the controls and physics found within stand the test of time as well as the rest of the package. I definitely think its worth checking out if you have any love for the game from your youth, but if you've never experience the series before I'd hold off until a demo becomes available.

Regardless of these issues, I still think Double Dragon Neon is worth checking out. It's a pretty faithful follow-up to a series that hasn't seen much love as of late, and manages to evoke the style and gameplay of the arcade classic without feeling too out of touch with modern audiences. I find myself having a fair amount of fun with it, and I think you will too. Also, it's kind of hard to say no to a free download if you're a Playstation Plus subscriber.

Overall, Mark of the Ninja is a must have title for Xbox 360 owners, and something that any fan of the XBLA service should certainly be checking out. It's honestly a shame that this game wasn't a part of this year's Summer of Arcade promotion for Microsoft, because it's certainly better than just about every title promoted this time around.

You know what would have would have made this game so much better, other than more development time? If they'd waited until the Blu-ray/DVD/digital version was released and then gave you a digital copy of the movie when you bought the game.

It's not entirely flawless, packing a bit of aggravation in with its stiff difficulty, and the lack of online play is sort of disappointing, but for $10 I definitely think it's worth picking up.

In the end, for a mere $20 you can't go wrong with a game that has all the excitement of the Olympics, even if it doesn't have all the names and places accurate due to licensing agreements. Summer Stars 2012 plays great with friends or even alone in the massive career mode and will surely deliver more than your money's worth of enjoyment.

Overall, I found Sound Shapes to be an absolute joy to play, with little to no complaints about the actual game itself. Outside of some clunky feeling mechanics on the level editing side via the Vita touch screen, this marks my favorite platforming experience since Rayman Origins.

Overall, for the asking price, I'd hesitate to say this is worth picking up unless you already know what you're getting into, and have a fondness for the original release. As a new experience, I don't think there's a whole lot here to appreciate without some type of nostalgia for the original release. With a bit more content, and a better online experience, maybe you would have had something here, but JoJo's Bizarre Adventure HD feels a bit like a lazy port outside of the decent HD re-skin.

If you've been on board with the game up to this point, Episode 3 will fail to disappoint. It's another excellent entry in what is easily shaping up to be Telltale's best work yet, and there's no reason to stop playing the series now.

But if you find yourself hungering for a new experience, I think Way of the Samurai 4 can certainly fill a bit of that need. Just be prepared for a little lack of refinement along the way.

Overall Rainbow Moon seems to fall flat on the fun scale. The fights are rather boring once a player understands the enemy AI and the controls. Overall, it's a SRPG that leaves much to be desired. Did we find gold at the end of this Rainbow? Unfortunately not.

Fall of Cybertron feels like an actual love letter to the series, and puts the right amount of emphasis on individual characters and their traits and mixes that with levels that make use of those particular skills and abilities. It's just a real joy to play, and I'm glad to have in my hands an actual, fun Transformers experience in video game form.

If one thing can be said about what EA has accomplished this year it is that they have taken their efforts seriously and have delivered the most realistic playing version of the pigskin classic that gamers have ever witnessed.

Overall, Retro/Grade is a wholly unique experience in both genres that it represents, and is well worth your time. If you have any interest in rhythm games or shoot 'em ups, you should do yourself a favor and check this out.

It's a great, 2D experience that harkens back to the popular Metroidvania sub-genre of adventures games, but manages to blaze its own path and stand out as a wholly unique experience. There's certainly little like it on XBLA, and I highly suggest picking it up.

And while polishing the game up a bit more would do little to impact the replay value, it would certainly have provided a more lasting memory than what Papo & Yo currently delivers, which is a shame because otherwise it's a game that is definitely worth experiencing.

If you go into this expecting a light hearted, breezy romp through the Mushroom Kingdom, you'll definitely have some fun with it. But the more hardcore player out there might find themselves a bit put-off by the overall ease and lack of challenge, so here's to hoping that New Super Mario Bros. Wii U can strike a better balance between fun and difficulty than NSMB 2 managed to do.

There's little to complain about with Darksiders II, in fact, I pretty much love everything about this game. I won't be surprised to see it end up on quite a few Game of the Year lists at the tail end of the year, which I'm sure you'll come to understand once you lay your hands on it.

Overall, I feel like Sleeping Dogs is the start to something that has the potential to get even better down the road. I really love the setting, characters, and hand to hand combat of the game, but the remainder feels a little recycled in comparison to other open-world games we've played so far this generation.

But still, it's definitely worth checking out. Hopefully the server and connection issues can get ironed out over the next couple weeks, because this is a multiplayer experience that I'd like to see continue on for a while, and can see myself jumping back into whenever I have some free time. Despite some of those issues, I definitely think it's worth the asking price, and think you'll find that it is too.

So yeah, Risen 2 is a pretty flawed experience, and again isn't going to be for everyone.

It definitely feels like it works, but I'll freely admit that I wish the game had some type of optional controller support like Child of Eden. Still, as a Kinect only experience, it's worth checking out for owners of the hardware that are probably finding little reason to keep it plugged in at the moment, and I think you'll definitely get some enjoyment out of it.

If you allow yourself to get absorbed into what Dyad is offering though, I think you'll admit that there's a lot more to Dyad than what a simple text description can relate. And for me that's the sign of something truly great, regardless of the type of media it's presented in.

Deadlight looks absolutely gorgeous in motion, and I adore every bit of it that involves me ducking through open windows into abandoned motel rooms, houses, warehouses, and just seeing the absolutely wrecked world surrounding it all. It feels and looks like you'd expect a post-apocalyptic world to be, but all within a 2D space, which is unique enough to make Deadlight worth your time.

So it's certainly worth picking up, and I think most KH fans will fall in love with this entry. It certainly feels like one of the better entries in the series, and is also one of my favorite games on the 3DS right now.

But overall the game performs on the PS3 without much issue. It's not the best looking game on the market, but I enjoyed the brightly hued color of the stages, despite some of the more repetitious environments that divide the rooms.

I was quite disappointed when I realized that this is "Spec Ops" game in name only. From a gameplay perspective it's basically a throw-away of everything the franchise was about, instead opting to amalgamate it with the rest of the homogeneous military-action titles currently out there.

NCAA Football 13 isn't going to be forever remembered as the year EA shook up virtual college football by any means, but it may be the year that gamers look back to in the future when they realize that EA got everything right.

Despite the fact that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD does seem to have a number of holes that could have been filled with content from the original games, the controls, tricks, and levels have been given a lot of attention, and play out like the original two titles they're meant to represent.

Unless you're some kind of rabid Spider-Man fan that absolutely must experience the super hero in every form of media possible, I'd urge you to not waste your time with the Amazing Spider-Man.

In the end Jeremy McGrath's Off Road Racing does exactly what it sets out to, which is deliver a solid racing experience that will provide gamers their money's worth whether they are playing online, offline, or both.

All in all, for ten bucks you have 4 new tables to add to your already extensive collection of Zen Studio's created tables, featuring at least three stellar entries in an already excellent collection.

So I'd venture to say that SEGA has managed to deliver a really fun, fairly precise Olympic experience this year, and if you have any sort of interest in the Olympic Games, you should probably check this out. It's definitely one of the better Olympic or Track and Field style games I've played in recent memory (outside of the mascot stuff), and is well worth your time.

While it may seem like I'm being harsh on a game that costs as much as lunch at your favorite burrito shack, I can't help but feel this game does absolutely nothing to draw anyone in, especially where there are other racers that do it better at the same price or cheaper with more replay value and heaven forbid some kind of online interaction.

Overall Darkside Chronicles is pretty fun, and while not without its own set of flaws, it's clearly the part of this collection that's going to be worth checking out. Unless you're some type of Resident Evil die-hard though, I'd urge you to avoid Umbrella Chronicles, as I find it to be a pretty weak entry that does little more than retell you the plot highlights from a few of the previous Resident Evil titles, and certainly feels less polished when stacked up against Darkside Chronicles. And at $15, Darkside Chronicles is easily worth the asking price, and makes for a pretty fun experience.

Pokémon Conquest is definitely one of the best spin-off Pokémon titles I've ever played, and has enough meat to it, along with some standard Pokémon trappings, that fans of the traditional series will find a lot to like here. And if you're more of a strategy RPG fan than you are a Pokémon fan, you'll still get a lot of enjoyment out of this. It's not the most challenging experience out there, but the sheer amount of content available makes this worth checking out.

Overall I was surprised by just how much meat there was to Theatrhythm's gameplay, which ends up being a lot more than just tapping along with icons on a screen. The whole concept of building a party, outfitting them will skills and equipment, and leveling them up over the course of 40 plus songs is really a lot of fun, and insanely addictive.

The Walking Dead Episode 2 is something that begs to be talked about once it's finished, and not beforehand, which makes writing this review a little challenging. If the first episode didn't convince you enough that the series is worth continuing, than I'm not sure that episode 2 really does much differently to make you think otherwise.

Overall, I feel like DiRT Showdown is definitely worth checking out, but it's certainly not on par with the experience that DiRT 3 delivered for me. The demolition modes are great additions here, but everything else just feels like tacked on, recycled content that I've already played in DiRT 3. Still, even recycled, that content manages to be just as fun as I remember it. So, unless you're particularly burnt out on DiRT at the moment, I definitely think you should give Showdown a chance, and I think you'll find that it's worth checking out.

So while I do tend to be pretty positive about the LEGO series as a whole, it's also easy to see that this is the best effort Traveler's Tales has put into the franchise as of yet.

As a whole, this is a set of games that is really a must have for Vita owners. Whether you're starving for content on the Vita, or feel pretty satiated with the current slate of titles that have released over the past couple weeks, having both of these games on a handheld platform is simply amazing.

It's hard not to recommend SFXT to fans of the genre.