With tracks ravaged and different for every lap and timed explosives akin to Mario Kart, Split/Second just overtook Burnout and sped through its burning wreckage.

3D Dot Game Heroes is a must-have addition to any RPG-lover's video game library.

With a diverse group of characters, game modes, and maps, it's a good choice for those who want something with some instant satisfaction.

The fact that you don't get a single point until you've blown yourself up gives Plain Sight some pretty stressful gameplay. It's a compelling balancing act; you literally become a bigger target with every kill.

Even though it's more of the same old, same old (a charge that killed the classic Mega Man series back in the SNES/PSone days), Mega Man 10 is a pretty good 2D platformer and Mega fans will thoroughly enjoy it.

Everything a portable game should be - fun, addictive, and easy to pick up, even if it's hard to put down.

MotoGP 09/10 certainly isn’t the worst motorcycle racing game on the market, but it’s definitely not the best either.

We're not talking the second coming of Tetris here, but Groovin' Blocks is a fresh entry into a crowded genre. Most importantly, it's unique enough to stand out in said genre.

Kane deserved better.

God of War III, despite the final level's disappointing gameplay, felt immortal during every other hack-and-slash minute.

There's almost as much game in the $10 Rage of the Gladiator as there is in the $50 Punch-Out!! Students of Doc Louis would do well to plunk down 1000 Wii Points to take the fight to ancient Rome.

Even though it's more of the same old, same old (a charge that killed the classic Mega Man series back in the SNES/PSone days), Mega Man 10 is a pretty good 2D platformer and Mega fans will thoroughly enjoy it.

Overhead racing fans in particular will be able to stop comparing any new entry in the genre to a game that is more than 20 years old and will instead be able to point to Scrap Metal as an exemplar of the genre.

Final Fantasy XIII will probably not go down as one of the high points in the series. However, on its own, FFXIII is still a really good and enjoyable game with a fantastic battle system and gorgeous graphics.

If you're in the market for a sandbox game that's more RPG than GTA, but still want just a smidge of that GTA craziness, Yakuza 3 would be a great a choice, long as you can handle the slow beginning.

Final Fantasy XIII will probably not go down as one of the high points in the series. However, on its own, FFXIII is still a really good and enjoyable game with a fantastic battle system and gorgeous graphics.

Overall this is a really fun game.

MLB 2K10 is an improvement in many ways perhaps, most importantly, it won't be an embarrassing butt of jokes on the Internet.

MLB 2K10 is an improvement in many ways perhaps, most importantly, it won't be an embarrassing butt of jokes on the Internet.

All nitpicking of the aesthetics aside, Supreme Commander 2 is a successful game because of strong core mechanics.

Even though it's more of the same old, same old (a charge that killed the classic Mega Man series back in the SNES/PSone days), Mega Man 10 is a pretty good 2D platformer and Mega fans will thoroughly enjoy it.

In spite of the negative aspects of the game, I highly recommend the interesting and unique experience that is Heavy Rain.

Problem-solving fans will find a lot to love about getting to the bottom or, often times, the top of P.B. Winterbottom’s elaborate puzzle designs.

With an intriguing murder mystery and a cast of locals that make the place seem like an open-air asylum, the game is enjoyable from start to finish despite the hassles of battle getting in the way all too often.

Darwinia+ is one of the most unique looking games on XBLA and with Multiwinia, is one of the most fun.

Perhaps BioShock needed a sequel, and perhaps it didn't. Regardless, BioShock 2 is here and it's a great sequel that fixes the problems of the original and crafts another compelling tale within the walls of Rapture.

Perhaps BioShock needed a sequel, and perhaps it didn't. Regardless, BioShock 2 is here and it's a great sequel that fixes the problems of the original and crafts another compelling tale within the walls of Rapture.

Dante’s Inferno has taken a bit of flak from the gaming community for borrowing a lot (and I do mean a lot) of gameplay elements from God of War. But when it’s all said and done, Dante’s Inferno is a fun experience.

Dante’s Inferno has taken a bit of flak from the gaming community for borrowing a lot (and I do mean a lot) of gameplay elements from God of War. But when it’s all said and done, Dante’s Inferno is a fun experience.

White Knight Chronicles is a decent attempt at making a hybrid RPG, creating something for offline and online players. However, the emphasis on both has made the game somewhat half-baked.

Beyond its impressive production value, the true success of BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 is how it blends the most entertaining elements of so many other great games.

As it stands MAG is a technical feat because it boasts 256 console players in an online-only environment, but doesn’t offer anything else that’s truly exceptional for the FPS genre beyond that.

This is no cash-in. What at first seems like a God of War clone turns into a grown up version of Zelda - a bloody adventure with dark themes and settings, and it actually works. The puzzles are clever, the combat is visceral, there are a good amount of items and upgrades to be had and the world is convincing.

What at first seems like a God of War clone turns into a grown up version of Zelda - a bloody adventure with dark themes and settings, and it actually works.

Bayonetta is a superb action title that gets props for still being very challenging for the hardcore action crowd, but accessible enough for less-skilled players to play – the forgiving systems in place allow for minimal frustration, which usually leads to said player becoming much more skilled than they were before.

Bayonetta is a superb action title that gets props for still being very challenging for the hardcore action crowd, but accessible enough for less-skilled players to play – the forgiving systems in place allow for minimal frustration, which usually leads to said player becoming much more skilled than they were before.

Twin stick shooter fans have many other places to look to get their fix on the XBLA and almost all of them would be a better choice than 0 Day.

Its existence is puzzling, its release an admittance of surrender, and its song selection showcases one singer while snubbing another... yet because Guitar Hero remains fun, Guitar Hero: Van Halen comes away as a decent diversion.

Its existence is puzzling, its release an admittance of surrender, and its song selection showcases one singer while snubbing another... yet because Guitar Hero remains fun, Guitar Hero: Van Halen comes away as a decent diversion.

It has that old-school feel of a game like the original side-scrolling Gradius, all wrapped up in a brilliantly simple veneer with smooth controls, amazing physics, and all-around satisfying gameplay.

The Saboteur is one of those games that gains points due to its atmosphere and setting, making up for any shortcomings that might pop up due to the fact that the game is yet another open-world sandbox game, or if you want to be more cynical, Mercenaries 2 in a World War II skin (which it admittedly is, just way more polished).

The Saboteur is one of those games that gains points due to its atmosphere and setting, making up for any shortcomings that might pop up due to the fact that the game is yet another open-world sandbox game, or if you want to be more cynical, Mercenaries 2 in a World War II skin (which it admittedly is, just way more polished).

It's been a busy holiday season, but don't let that distract you from checking out this game – you'll be surprised at how different – and better – the game is compared to its predecessor.

After the first game turned out to not be as good as expected, the interest in a sequel waned, but AC2 did a great job of redeeming itself and with any luck those who were turned off by the original will at least give the sequel a try, because it truly is a greatly improved game.

This well-crafted sequel takes everything from the original game, adds in some new features and additional variety, and refines the whole package into the new must-play cooperative title.

If you loved the original and just want more Sackboy to hold you over before Sony releases LBP 2, this would be a good purchase for you. But I’d still say $19.99 is a fairer price tag – even for the eager.

For those who have not yet experienced the Adventures of Kratos, the God of War Collection is a no-brainer, and probably the best overall value on PS3 this year.

From the opening title screen to the epic final battle, New Super Mario Bros. Wii has everything a fan of the franchise could ever want.

Infinity Ward hits another one out of the park with Modern Warfare 2.

Infinity Ward hits another one out of the park with Modern Warfare 2.

With a decent storyline, hundreds of quests and missions, along with downloadable content the game could easily take anyone over 100+ hours to beat it; and that's not including the game's multiple endings.

If you're looking for the best RPGs of the Hi-Def Era, this game certainly ranks near the top alongside Lost Odyssey and Valkyria Chronicles.

Overall, The Ballad of Gay Tony is an outstanding package offering tremendous value. As an “expansion pack” it offers more gameplay, features and fun than many full-sized retail titles.

The game has issues, and isn't a huge improvement over Forza 2 (aside from the really good front end presentation), but it's still a fun and lengthy simulation of racing for those of us still into that stuff.

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is yet another great entry in a consistently excellent franchise, and the best entry in the series since the PS2 days.

I wouldn’t recommend playing the game for too long at a time for risk of getting bored with it. However, in small doses it is fun. The character dynamic is something new and when the thief is in play, it can be a blast.

In most ways, Borderlands is a first-person shooter that's really designed towards RPG fans, specifically the Diablo-styled hack & slash games. Regular shooter fans will find a lot to enjoy here however, thanks to the solid shooter mechanics.

In most ways, Borderlands is a first-person shooter that's really designed towards RPG fans, specifically the Diablo-styled hack & slash games.

Brutal Legend is a game chock full of sweet tribute to the metal gods.

Brutal Legend is a game chock full of sweet tribute to the metal gods. It is a love letter from developer Double Fine to the Heavy Metal sound and culture.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the kind of game you have to experience for yourself to understand just how great it really is.

For all the years of development and jokes about Gran Turismo PSP being vaporware, the finished product is just fine in the gameplay department, but lacking almost everywhere else.

Easy to learn, difficult to master, this game is perfect for gaming on the go.

Katamari Forever is the penultimate game in the series thus far; a collection of the best levels combined in a modest port of Beautiful Katamari along with the introduction of yet another awesome new character makes for a game that rekindles the love for rolling.

On one hand, Halo 3: ODST is a no-brainer purchase for fans, thanks to the new story and the addictive Firefight mode. It’s a classically fun Halo experience but on the other hand, if you’re looking for something truly different or innovative, you won’t find it here.

For newcomers to Shin Megami Tensei, this is a good place to start as the game is not brutally hard or needlessly complicated, but at the same time, it might turn people off and label the unique franchise as a purveyor of the archaic despite their cutting-edge modern games.

NHL 10, like its predecessors, puts the emphasis on realism instead of trying to grow its base and provides a couple of physical improvements for existing fans. That said, while the series hasn’t advanced in the last 12 months as much as it did 24 months ago, that’s only because NHL 09 was that revolutionary.

NHL 10, like its predecessors, puts the emphasis on realism instead of trying to grow its base and provides a couple of physical improvements for existing fans. That said, while the series hasn’t advanced in the last 12 months as much as it did 24 months ago, that’s only because NHL 09 was that revolutionary.

This game is successful in both drawing new players to the music game genre and exposing a new generation to the music of The Beatles.

The Beatles: Rock Band is as much a documentary as it is a game. The Beatles’ venerable music catalog is a great compliment to the Rock Band formula. This game is successful in both drawing new players to the music game genre and exposing a new generation to the music of The Beatles.

The Beatles: Rock Band is as much a documentary as it is a game. The Beatles’ venerable music catalog is a great compliment to the Rock Band formula.

Though some parts of the game tend to be frustrating in how poorly they were handled, Dirt 2 is still a good, fun racing game in a genre that's underrepresented on every console.

Long as you're not hung up on the whole rally thing, Dirt 2 delivers solid fun.

While it doesn't quite measure up to Contra III or Contra 4, Contra ReBirth scratches that side-scrolling itch a lot of us old-timers have.

It’s a great buy but be warned: once you place your first tower, you’ll be hooked for many, many hours of alien blasting fun.

That being said, the game mechanics are definitely learnable for the patient (and determined), and taking the time is extremely rewarding and enjoyable. The title drew me in, the game piqued my interest, but it was definitely the humor that kept me coming back again and again.

Overall, Battlefield 1943 successfully condenses down to the essentials what makes the franchise fun.

What Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has going for it besides the coveted movie license is a fair amount of missions, the ability to play as both Autobots and Decepticons and the unexpected online multiplayer, which isn’t always a given in movie-games.

What Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has going for it besides the coveted movie license is a fair amount of missions, the ability to play as both Autobots and Decepticons and the unexpected online multiplayer, which isn’t always a given in movie-games.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again is a great game that shows that Nintendo is slowly but surely becoming more comfortable with the idea of downloadble games.

If you’re looking for a game with fun-to-learn controls and if you’re tired of the fictionalized fighting in the recent Street Fighter IV or, dare I say it’s fake, WWE Legends of Wrestlemania, UFC 2009 Undisputed might be the true knockout you’re waiting for.

If you’re looking for a game with fun-to-learn controls and if you’re tired of the fictionalized fighting in the recent Street Fighter IV or, dare I say it’s fake, WWE Legends of Wrestlemania, UFC 2009 Undisputed might be the true knockout you’re waiting for.

Punch-Out!! captures the essence and invokes the spirit of the original without feeling old.

At $20, Raiden Fighters Aces is a good collection of three classic scrolling shooters and fans of the genre will find a lot to like at a low price.

Too often, an old game becomes an "extreme" game with the addition of pulsating light displays and techno music. But after the colorful, swirling backgrounds turn to black, Space Invaders Extreme is still just Space Invaders, a game that is over 30 years old.

While X-Men Origins: Wolverine is not a perfect game, Raven can easily lay claim to having created the best game ever starring Wolverine.

While X-Men Origins: Wolverine is not a perfect game, Raven can easily lay claim to having created the best game ever starring Wolverine.

If you've still got your copy of OutRun 2006 lying around, OutRun Online Arcade won't provide anything new beyond being the best looking version of the game to date.

The Godfather II movie has been hailed as the best sequel ever. The game version is fun, but technical issues, a lack of replayability and a sense that it feels hemmed in by the restrictions of the license prevent it from receiving the same accolades.

At the end of the day Dark Athena doesn't stand next to the original title. It lacks the innovation, and on top of that, the new campaign missed much of what made Escape from Butcher Bay so grand.

It's not long enough to own at full price, but Wanted introduces enough new gameplay elements, like curved bullets and rounded cover, to make it worth checking out, even if it’s only nine levels.

Wanted: Weapons of Fate continues the story of the movie and can be considered Wanted 1.5, so fans of the film and comic should definitely give the game a try.

Whether it’s the similar gameplay (My Life as a King excluded) or the recurring four races or even just the general look of it, I usually know what I’m getting with a Crystal Chronicles game and usually I like it. The DS version of Echoes of Time manages to uphold that tradition quite nicely. The Wii version, sadly, does not.

Echoes of Time, like most Crystal Chronicles games, uses the more classical fantasy style of past Final Fantasy games unlike the guns and motorcycles found in later releases.

The most disappointing thing about Wanted, however, is that it ends after a mere nine levels.

GTA: Chinatown Wars is a landmark for the DS. It pushes the system to new highs and is an absolute blast to play.

Overall, the Xbox 360 edition of Peggle has turned out to be the most feature-packed version of the game yet.

MadWorld is an astounding visual and auditory achievement that really shows off the "power" of the Wii. While the story is patched together and inspired by dozens of other movies and games, it's engaging enough that you'll want to know just what kind of a mad, mad world Jack is living in. But the repetitiveness of the action will ensure that once you put MadWorld down, you may not pick it up again.