Catherine is a healthy reminder that not every game is aspiring to be a Hollywood movie, that there are still developers out there who haven't sold out to a big-name publisher, and that video games can still offer a unique experience. Just remember to keep the difficulty down if you want to fully enjoy the characters and story.

After all is said and done Captain America: Super Soldier plays a lot like a watered downed Batman: Arkham Asylum, but with decent Wii controls thrown in.

Run to your nearest shop or hit an online store – if you are a Deus Ex fan, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is what you've been eagerly waiting for.

The story may not be the greatest, but the gameplay is solid and for that alone you should check it out.

It may not be the most epic shooter experience out there, but F.E.A.R. 3 eloquently satisfies its niche by giving us a refreshing alternative to the played out machismo theme in most of the shooters out there.

Gamers new to the genre probably won't find much to like here and should look to games like the Etrian Odyssey series if they want to stick their foot in the Dungeon Crawling waters. But long time fans of the genre like me will definitely get their $15 worth.

Unfortunately Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D doesn't feel very much like a Resident Evil game. It feels more like a zombie shooting gallery, except with blood spurts with each hit instead of the ding of a bell.

All in all it's a decent game with only a few nagging issues to prevent it from being great. Comparatively, I think that the original did it better, but Spicy Horse has done a respectable job with the sequel.

While I know that this is a movie tie-in, I had high hopes for Dark of the Moon because of War for Cybertron. At the end of the day, Dark of the Moon feels unpolished with room to grow.

The potential for a fun but simple shooter is here, but even with Gearbox at the helm Duke Nukem Forever is clearly a hastily-cobbled sum of unfinished parts. It could have been epic if it was released 3 to 4 years ago, but nowadays there are new rivals for the throne.

Say what you will about the little things that make UFC Personal Trainer a little clunky to use, I used it and I got results. In the end, that's what counts.

Dead or Alive Dimensions does a great job at creating a true Dead or Alive experience on a portable console.

The Witcher 2 easily stands amongst the big boys in the CRPG crowd and is also the best Action RPG to come out since Mass Effect 2.

Red Faction Armageddon is a step in the right direction – heavily focused on storyline, and easily cresting over a dozen hours of well-written gameplay to tackle is a far better experience than the open world of Guerrilla. Toss in the far-more-fun-than-it-should-be Ruin mode and the 4 player cooperative Infestation mode and you have a game with some legs. Look over my review of Guerrilla – there is a reason why Armageddon is scoring so much higher. All of those reasons add up to a solid product worthy of your cash.

Like any Femme Fatale or Private Dick who spends too much time in the bottle, L.A. Noire has its fair share of flaws and stories to share. Missing out on this game would be a crime.

Comparatively there is a lot of reason to buy Alive over its predecessor Reflex in terms of improved gameplay, but what burns on the way down is the way that content is handled. Level locked, pay for instant upgrades, and a DLC-fueled business model left me feeling like players won't get their money's worth without paying 40 for the disc and 20 for the rest of what should have been on it in the first place.

Ultimately Yakuza 4 is a good game but it isn't quite as good as Yakuza 3.

Overall, SpongeBob is a decent title.

Thor God of Thunder isn't the worst comic book or movie based game. It's also not even close to being the best. Sega did their best to cut and paste the God of War formula and for the most part they succeeded. The action is non-stop and unleashing Thor's powers is fun. The game stays fairly true to what long time fans would expect from Thor and they even threw in the Jack Kirby costume for good measure. The biggest problem with the game is that it just never reaches its fullest potential and it certainly doesn't get close to being as good as the series it is imitating. Throw in a short four and a half hour play time and you have a game that is hard to recommend, unless you are a huge Thor fan. Of course it could be worse, the game could be based off of Syfy's Almighty Thor.

I guess the question really comes down to whether Bulletstorm is worth your hard-earned gaming dollar. If you're a single-player campaign person, there is a fun and engaging story to be found. If you're into the multiplayer scene, I'd highly recommend getting the full version (you may want to calculate your new cost vs. used cost + 800 points). It is definately worth playing ... the question you need to answer for yourself is whether it's worth owning.

Brink does have challenge modes and a two-sided singleplayer campaign, but obviously it is multiplayer that shines brightest. Brink supports 16 players in multiplayer – get ready as I'm about to lay down some prediction as well as some very heavy compliments.

Ultimately though, RIFT has had one of the smoothest launches in MMO history, and Trion Worlds has shown publicly that they're willing to own up to their mistakes as soon as they're made, and are quick to enact change to prevent things from recurring, as shown by their near-instant creation of the coin-lock system and their authenticators, as well as their reaction to the end of the River of Souls event.

Portal 2 is hands-down the best game thus far released in 2011.

If you're a fan of the Red Faction series, there isn't anything in Battlegrounds that will satisfy your craving for more Red Faction. If you're looking for a simple multiplayer game that you can play with your friends locally or online to kill a few hours, Battlegrounds may very well be worth the price of admission.

Ultimately I can only recommend Dissidia 012 if you really liked the first Dissidia. If that's the case then you should think about selling or trading in the original game, since Dissidia 012 is essentially the same game, only with a new story mode and a character assist mechanic thrown in.

The funny thing is, it isn't even the 3D effect that makes this game so awesome, it's everything else.

While the difficulty might turn some people off, the game holds an absolutely amazing amount of depth. Not only that, when you consider the title is only $20, it makes it even more of a good deal. Sure, most fans of NIS probably have this for the PS2 or Wii (or both), but if you don't, you owe it to yourself to pick it up and give it a spin.

Brunswick Pro Bowling for Kinect had the potential to be a great bowling game. The number of features included in the game is strong. The bowling just seems to be a little bit off for someone who bowls a lot. It's not a bad experience for getting a group of friends together and just have some fun. With a few tweaks, this could be a great experience for the hardcore bowler as well.

The game plays great, and while it might be tough, never to the point where it feels cheap or frustrating. Instead, the sports play too similarly to each other and there isn't any challenge to winning the tournaments in each cup.

Overall I recommend Homefront with some caveats- the multiplayer could use some balancing (which they've announced with a new patch at the time of this review). The single player was disappointing in that it ended when it did- it was like showing up at a party and not even getting to kick off your shoes before it's over.

Dungeons could be a fun game if it weren't for the repetitive gameplay and lack of use for most of the gimmicks. After a few levels, it becomes a grind, which works in massively multiplayer games, but not in this context. I believe the constant comparisons to Dungeon Keeper hurt this title, building it up to represent a game that it isn't. If you enjoy RTS titles and conquering maps, you may be able to find entertainment here. If you're looking for the next Dungeon Keeper, keep looking.

I'd say the reason to play it is that it's a solid, if unremarkable, platformer that can be a slightly fun means by which to pass the time. There's zero story and the bulk of the challenge has been removed, thereby reducing Bionic Commando ReArmed 2 to just another side scrolling shooter with some jumping elements.

This is one you will enjoy from start to finish, and it absolutely belongs in your 360 library.

You fight for a bit, die, respawn somewhere on the back end of the map, and then spend a few minutes racing back across the map only to die again.Rinse, repeat, and eventually you'll earn enough experience points to purchase perks to upgrade your skills and status. Even for 800 points, there are better titles out there to spend your money on.

As I've said throughout this review, the game is filled to the brim with genuine heart wrenching moments that are compelling and real. The writing of Milius shines through in every facet of the game. Clearly the guys at Kaos are looking to build a franchise, and if Homefront is any indication of how that franchise begins I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.

Most of the time I dread reviewing 'kid titles', but this time I'll have to offer my hearty thanks to THQ and Blue Tongue for bringing us this sequel!

Mind Jack is definitely an enjoyable game and worth picking up and playing from an action standpoint, just don't expect a great script.

Plants Versus Zombies, for the small investment of $2.99, is one of the better purchases on the App store.

It's too bad that Splatterhouse couldn't be brought to this console generation and become a competitive franchise.

Capcom has managed to make a fighting game that everyone can play and enjoy. Marvel vs Capcom 3 satisfies the hardcore fighter, yet is approachable for fighting amateurs.

Ultimately Naruto Shippuden: Shinobi Rumble is a shallow game.

Overall the game does not take many risks from the formula established in the first game, but it presents everything with more polish. The series is not quite part of the big leagues yet, but still, if you are looking for an action RPG to spend time with in-between other major releases the world of Two Worlds II may be a good vacation destination.

Adults may tire of the gameplay after a few rounds, but kids are sure to love it. I never thought I'd be recommending a fart app, but it just goes to show that a little personality can go a long way!

So since 1995 we've been getting to know Jack. Somehow the game has remained fresh and funny, giving us 16 years of solid laughs. This title is no exception with 73 well-polished episodes on the disc.

I have some nostalgia for these titles, playing some of these games in the arcades. If the controls were better, I wouldn't have a hard time recommending it to those who have a soft spot for these arcade games. The way it stands though, you might be better off getting one of the other Namco collections for a different console.

I loved every minute of it.

The game is certainly executed extremely well, and is a fun and faithful translation. However, with only one map so far I can't personally justify the premium price point.

If you have enjoyed previous Sonic games but were hesitant to pick this one up because of the most recent Sonic outings, worry no more. Sonic Colors is worth the price of admission.

If you have enjoyed previous Sonic games but were hesitant to pick this one up because of the most recent Sonic outings, worry no more. Sonic Colors is worth the price of admission.

Minor issues aside, Chaos Rings is a fantastic new IP for Squeenix, and easily the best RPG available on the iPhone.

But if you're looking for a game that's filled with breezy fun, excellent graphics, solid characters, and all the worlds of Disney in the palm of your hand with a lot of The Matrix thrown in for good measure, then Kingdom Hearts: ReCoded should absolutely be in your collection.

EA Sports MMA brings a nice package to the ring.

The story continues to get better and better with each step. Since it was written by the same people who did the Ace Attorney games, I'm not surprised at the quality of these games. Unfortunately, when it ends, the game is pretty much over since it is linear and doesn't have any alternative endings.

If you have a nostalgia kick for these games, then you'll enjoy seeing them again.

I hope that EA goes back to this idea again eventually. If they do, they need to allow the player to actually CREATE things, fix the menus, and also allow for a little more open-ended gameplay. If they do, I would love to recommend it. Until then, it's worth a rental for the curious and not worth much else for those who aren't interested.

3D settings have always been kryptonite for the Castlevania series. As well as nearly every 2D entry in the franchise has been received, the attempts at 3D have almost always been panned. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow breaks this curse completely by excelling in nearly every way a game can be measured. The excellent voice acting, the suitably grand score, the gorgeously crafted vistas, the compelling plot; everything just clicks when it comes to this game.

When it comes right down to it, if you're a fan of any of the NIS titles or a fan of roguelikes, you owe it to yourself to buy this title. At $30 it's an absolute steal given the amount of gameplay you can get out of it. It's not flawless, but then again, no game really is.

But here the developer's essentially gave players the chance to skip the most irrelevant portion of the game while forcibly skipping critical information by not leaving messages on screen for at least five seconds. Combine this with the complete lack of fun associated with the board game, stripping out the ability to strategize, and hurling flashing graphics and towering buildings at you sans an understanding of what anything means, and the result is a rapid-pace disaster of a game.

The game does over multiplayer with up to eight players. Even here, however, the game seems somewhat limited in scope. You have only a handful of maps, and only four game modes, two of which are ranked.

For a game that borrows so liberally from other sources, Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom stands up pretty well on its own.

I give props to Naruto vs. Sasuke for faithfully recreating the entire second season of Naruto Shippuden. Some stuff was cut out, but the main story points are here.

Namco Bandai has managed to do one of the rarest feats in the video game landscape. They have created a really good game based on an anime series.

Being a big DBZ fan, I really wanted to enjoy Dragon Ball Z: Tenchaichi Tag Team, and at first I did. But the game wore thin real quick once I figured out that all of the fighters control exactly the same way and you can win every single fight in the game using the exact same strategy.

Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a fun action RPG.

Matrix Software has now made three good-to-great games in a row for the DS: Avalon Code, Nostalgia and now 4 Heroes of Light. I only wish they could take one of these fantastic concepts and push it over the hump from "really good" to "exceptional."

The Sly Collection is a great game for kids and adults who grew up with Mario will no doubt appreaciate the platforming gameplay.

It just feels like this game could have been renamed Dynasty Warriors: Fist of the North Star. If you like that style of gameplay, then you may enjoy this game. Otherwise it's not worth your time, even for fans of the series.

In conclusion, the word I would use to sum up Kirby's Epic Yarn is "delightful." It's only aim is to make you smile, and it does so with panache.

A higher level of difficulty and a lengthier campaign might have elevated The UnderGarden's score, but as it stands it's still a terrific title that straddles the Zen and puzzle genres with style.

But this game is an epic fail start to finish. It's storyline is terrible, the graphics are mediocre at best, the voice acting ranges from bad to worse (with Oldman the lone actor who must have used his imagination while recording his lines), the Wii's native controls aren't exactly cut out for this kind of rapid action, there's little to no reason given as to why to play the game (which isn't very fun), and the in-game cut scenes are terrible.

On the whole, Call of Duty: Black Ops for the DS is a genuinely solid little shooter.

Taken as a whole; Time Crisis: Razing Storm is a fairly good package.

N-Space did everything they could with GoldenEye. They've pushed the DS as far as they could, but it simply doesn't have the power to do anything more than the most basic shooter mechanics.

GoldenEye 007 is a great step in the right direction for this long-neglected franchise.

Whatever your gameplay preference is, Call of Duty: Black Ops has you covered and is a must-have title for any shooter fan.

Whatever your gameplay preference is, Call of Duty: Black Ops has you covered and is a must-have title for any shooter fan.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood has everything you loved and hated about AC2, but it has shined up the positives to a sheen I didn't expect. Toss in the fantastic multiplayer with its persistent experience and leveling system and you have a solid and worthy successor to an already great series.

For those of us that are hardcore 007 fanatics, James Bond 007: Blood Stone is good enough to hold us over until the eventual resurrection of the film series (or perhaps another game), but most players will rightfully pass on this one in favor of other gaming options.

Pinball FX2 is one of the most accurate and realistic pinball simulations I have played. If you appreciate the creation, design, and gameplay of pinball machines, you will get many finger-blistering hours from Pinball FX2.

While the previous Ride reviews might have scared you away from getting Shred, it's worth trying out if you get a chance. You might be surprised how much fun you are having with the game.

Yuke's and THQ set the bar quite high with last year's rendition of this franchise, and they could have easily taken the year off and rested on their accomplishments. It is quite impressive to see that the development team has stayed hungry and added some key elements to this franchise that fans are going to go absolutely wild over.

Yuke's and THQ set the bar quite high with last year's rendition of this franchise, and they could have easily taken the year off and rested on their accomplishments. It is quite impressive to see that the development team has stayed hungry and added some key elements to this franchise that fans are going to go absolutely wild over.

Veterans to the series who want their NHL game to be as realistic as possible will still want to go with the PS3 or 360 versions. But gamers who want a fun, faster paced version of the NHL, coupled with good use of motion controls, will definitely want to check out NHL Slapshot.

For $30, it's not a bad deal to try it out and see how you and your friends can do when in the mood for some trivia. Just don't expect the same level of expectation of being on the show.

Your kids might have some fun with this, or maybe with someone else who enjoyed the game show. After a few games the experience gets rather dry.

Even if you don't play Fable 3 more than once, you can expect about 20-25 hours to play through the core game, and anywhere from another 15-20 more if you decide that you want to see most of everything the game has to offer. But I'd recommend not charging straight through – go wander about and sniff the proverbial flowers and have fun exploring the world of Albion.

All that being said, Alien Breed 2: Assault is a fun little game to play.

If you can handle the difficulty and don't mind an exercise in frustration, this is one of the best platformers out there and an honorable ode to the glorious days of old-school. If you prefer a more easy going experience, you may want to pass on SMB and save yourself the rise in blood pressure.

While the battle between the two modern warfare juggernauts will be settled in multiplayer, the single player stands well enough on its own to justify your purchase.

It appeals to your kids, and will probably be quite a bit of fun for them. They'll get to see their favorite Pokemon, and be able to run around in an enjoyable world for a bit. However, as an adult, you probably won't have much fun beyond seeing your kids enjoy their time with it.

If you liked any of the previous Layton games, you should definitely get Unwound Future.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a really good game, but it's not a truly great game.

If you just enjoy good adventure games with a heavy dose of action, then be sure to give Shattered Dimensions a look.

While there is an incredible wealth of things to discover and enjoy in Fallout: New Vegas, so much of it will depend on the game being stable enough to see it. The gameplay mechanics (factions, crafting, etc.) that Obsidian has brought to the table are welcome additions, but the framerate issues, lockups, and texture oddities are not.

Along with FreeStyleGames critical examination of every bit of DJ Hero and their effort to improve everything, they have succeeded beyond measure and created a title that no music fan should pass up.

Overall, the game looks like it has been rebuilt from the ground up. The removal of the guitar portions, a slick new interface, a more evenly distributed soundtrack, and a few new tricks to keep you on your toes make this a far more polished product.

Along with FreeStyleGames critical examination of every bit of DJ Hero and their effort to improve everything, they have succeeded beyond measure and created a title that no music fan should pass up.

For all the hype that floated around the original Scribblenauts, it ended up delivering a lot less than promised. Super Scribblenauts delivers the goods in a way that the original couldn't.