The fact is that TERA has an incredible amount going for it as an MMO. It forges ahead of most other offerings in terms of graphics, it presents a style of combat that not only sets itself apart from most options but manages to be a major selling point for the game, it comes with a diverse array of fun classes to play as, and it does it all with style and grace.

For those people who own a HDTV, you are in one heck of a visual treat. It's unfortunate that some minor gameplay and voice issues bring down the overall quality of the game.

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.

So, to recap: There's a crisper and more friendly GUI. There's a new wide selection of mostly great songs. You have loads of freedom to come and go from the stage as you please AND its backwards-compatible with Guitar Hero World Tour.

So, if you have played Final Fantasy IV, or if you have never tried it but are familiar with other examples of the genre, you will definitely enjoy Final Fantasy IV for the DS.

You have to play the game in the dark, with the volume cranked up, to really appreciate all this game has to offer. If you're into scary games, you won't find anything better than this.

This game came out of left field, but it smacked a grand slam right out of the ballpark!

There's just so much to do, so much to unlock, with and an incredibly deep battle system and an interesting story line, there's plenty to keep you coming back for more. "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance" take notice: you have competition.

Super Mario 3D Land is the first 3DS title that really takes advantage of the 3D capabilities of the system.

The most realistic skate title ever made. The graphics, animation, sound, and revamped challenge system has created a game that will challenge the legendary "Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2" for its crown as the king of the series.

Neocore Games should be commended for putting out such a high-quality experience where their story is equally outlandish, silly and serious – I’m personally looking forward to the recently announced sequel.

The four pillars of the game that I mentioned earlier represent a fantastic amalgamation of some of the best games we've played, giving us a serviceable shooting and driving game, a great free-running game, and a fantastic combat engine all in one package. Anywhere Sleeping Dogs might have lost points for originality, it makes up for in managing to combine all of these elements into one coherent game.

Jak X would have been even better if it supported four-player split-screen with the multitap.

Just the simple addition of being able to move while punching is enough to recommend this game hands down.

Turbine has given Mirkwood the same amount of love and great gameplay that Moria and Shadows of Angmar have and they have thrown in a great new gameplay mechanic with the skirmish system. On top of all of that, a lot of the little things were polished.

While it won’t hold up to the likes of Zelda, it provides an entertaining romp while the game lasts. Air combat is a blast to get involved in, and the humongous worlds are amazing to fly through.

Don't let my minor complaints deter you though. If you haven't played Lord of the Rings Online for a while then Rohan is the perfect excuse to pick it up again. If you have never played LotRO then I would encourage you to give it a try, all of the stuff leading up to Rohan is still compelling and you will know that you have a good expansion waiting for you at the end.

One of the best, if not THE best game for the PSP. If you own a PSP and are a fan of fighting games, picking this up is a no brainer.

Not many games can touch you, let alone make you really think about not only the world around you but also your inner persona, who you would prefer to show to the world but often must keep hidden for the sake of keeping up appearances. Play this game.

With a single-player campaign that finally lives up to the hype of movie level quality and a solid multiplayer experience that clearly shows the benefits of a yearly iterative cycle, Call of Duty: Black Ops II comes close to being one of the best titles in the series.

Not only is the Enhanced edition a great value, but it is also one of the best CRPGs to come out in some time.

This is the game all of us transforming robot fans have been waiting for...sign petitions, buy two copies, solicit your Congressman, just make sure you get this game and work to make sure it gets a sequel.

This is a long game, trial and error or not. The problem is you may become so frustrated that you have to play this game in spurts or destroy your controller. I'm glad they made this game more difficult, but it borders on the maddening.

Chances are if you're a long-standing player of Rift, a lot of what I've said in this review is (while probably encouraging) not a surprise to you. Judging by the sheer amount of improvements I've seen since the last time I played, not to mention the content added over the course of the core game's many updates, I'm guessing Rift players know their MMO of choice is clearly handled with care and attention. But if for some reason you're a Rift player who has hesitated over whether to pick up this expansion, I'll sum up my take simply: it's fantastic. Go get it.

If you are a DBZ fan, this is a dream come true. The game does just about everything right. Go and buy this now (you probably would even if I told you that the only difference between this and a bag of manure was the bag). If you aren’t a DBZ fan, you might be turned off by the simplistic gameplay.

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.

Lack of replay value aside, this is a game that you absolutely should not miss.

The combat is what really sets the game apart, and once you play Reckoning you'll notice how stiff the combat in other RPGs is. I have to hand it to 38 Studios and Big Huge Games with their first RPG attempt. They have not only hit a home run, they hit it out of the park.

There is one area where Gears of War does not shine – bugs. Four big ones affecting multiplayer are fairly widespread.

Few of the tasks are dreary and boring, the graphics are gorgeous, the music is Final Fantasy grade A, most of the online community is helpful and fun, and you’ll never run out of things to do.

It’s film noir, it’s drama, but most accurately it is unique. I’ve played literally thousands of games on every platform under the sun, but Heavy Rain really connected with me.

Most of the time when I see a developer change between products, it spells inevitable doom or a watered down shadow of the previous title. In this case, I think Vicarious Visions has taken what Raven started and managed to not only match it but improve upon it.

But getting behind the wheel of one of the most realistic driving engines and booting around, challenging racers, and having all kinds of fun adds value to all cars – not just the ones that are ridiculously fast and expensive. I've played the game at numerous difficulty settings both with 360 controller and MS Force Feedback Racing Wheel, and have come away impressed.

There is no doubt that Battlefield comes with some warts courtesy of a few mission features and the forced inclusion of Origin, but once these are ironed out we should have a title worthy of carrying the series name.

If you're not prepared to implement the tweaks and fixes mentioned in this review, then you should stay away from the game or hunt it down on its native consoles instead. If the previously mentioned 360 Review doesn't describe the sort of game you enjoy, then stay away altogether – not even bug fixes and gameplay tweaks will make this a game you like. But if you're willing to implement a couple fan-made patches and you crave a game that's beautiful, dark, cryptic, challenging and just plain unique in so many ways, grab this game and give it a go.

From the sharp graphics to the rock solid gameplay, this is a well-implemented game.

Rune Factory 4 is a game that you could easily dive into for twenty minutes or two hours at a time, and it seemingly never ends. There’s always one more thing you can do to improve your station in the town, or the town’s station in the world.

As with every music game, it's all about the replay value, and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock has plenty of that. I can't say enough good things about the quest mode, Party Play is shaping up to be more user-friendly than ever, and the amount of competitive and co-op gameplay options are all great fun.

Families will enjoy Little Big Planet because of the ease of gameplay and the four player co-op. Hardcore gamers will enjoy Little Big Planet because of the collection aspect and the user created content. Future game designers will love Little Big Planet because of the incredible level editor.

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

Overall, ToGf is a fun RPG with an absolute ton of things to do through the game.

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.

The Vita has become a surprisingly good system for fans of fighting games, and DOA5+ is an excellent edition to the family.

This is a great game from the first minute on, and you’ll not want to put this game down if you allow yourself to be drawn into the plot.

A movie-based game that is well done and relatively problem free? X-Men Origins: Wolverine is definitely one of the more pleasant surprises of the year.

DDR aficionados will be disappointed by the lack of the Oni mode. However, one would be hard pressed to find another game with this many options, levels (songs), and customization in this game.

It's so often that by the third outing both games and movies can lose any hope of a coherent storyline or sensible character arc. Gears of War 3 manages to dodge that bullet, ending up stronger than the previous two titles in every way. The solid multiplayer, a somewhat meaningful single player experience, an epic score, and the chance to share it with your friends is a compelling package.

This truly is a great game with a well thought out story, beautiful graphics and great voices.

As it stands, this very likely is the best PC fighting game available, period – and doubly so for the money. And not only that, but buying the game gives you access to the Skullgirls Beta, so you can test out changes in advance of their going live in the game proper.

The game is definitely an incremental step forward for the series, and not a revolutionary one.

I would like to see some of issues addressed in the inevitable sequel along with: A 2nd squad of teammates, better friendly AI, a full time on-screen compass, and an opportunity to take direct control of some vehicles.

With its stunning graphics and terrific story line, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is definitely one of the more pleasant surprises of the year.

Expect to play through this game at least three times, if not more, in your quest to see everything that it has to offer. Thankfully this is a very good game, or else players simply wouldn’t spend the time to beat it again.

A solid platformer with laugh out loud humor and stunning graphics.

This is the best Guitar Hero title to date and it returns to the formula that worked so well for Guitar Hero III. The storyline differentiates it from the competition and its over-the-top heavy metal look and feel work for it quite well.

This may seem like a feature hardly worth mentioning, but being able to save whenever you want makes the game much more enjoyable.

The storyline and acting is superb. I would call Dark Cloud 2 a classic.

Overall, the game is a solid taste of things to come and if the final game sticks the landing, then we're all in for a good zombie-killing time.

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.

If you’re looking for a party game that everyone can enjoy, or if you haven’t looked at Guitar Hero in a while, you should definitely check this one out.

The action nature of this game makes the length shorter as there is little to no strategy as there is in turn-based games. I doubt many will want to go through this game again, but for the first time through the game was quite rewarding.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a very unique experience, even in the realm of video games. It’s gameplay systems gel well together and the non-linear storytelling could only work in this medium. While some plot points aren’t as well explored as others and it uncomfortably sexualizes high school students, it’s still a game you absolutely need to play if you’re a fan of science fiction or enjoy video game storytelling.

Pistol Whip is insanely fun, downright hectic, and excellent for parties. While the seven levels won’t last very long, the soundtrack and compelling rhythmic gameplay carry this one to stratospheric heights. Embrace your gun kata, and pick this up.

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

After tons of time squinting at my monitor trying to solve whodunits and twisting my iPad around to see if my puzzle will cooperate, The Drifter has been the refreshing and innovative experience I’ve been looking for. You’ll find me hard-pressed to find any glaring flaws, as it excels in its characters, writing, puzzling, and everything else. It’s a thrill ride from start to finish that I’d recommend to anyone.

A great game. It’s detailed, well thought out, and planned. It has real science in it. It has real politics in it. It has drama and it has humor.

In summary, Persona 5 Tactica offers a great story with engaging factors, vibrant colors, dynamic art styles, new characters, and music. It masters a compelling story while also presenting older and nostalgic characteristics of Persona 5. With a fresh new coat of paint, Persona 5 Tactica is worth it to suit up as a Phantom Thief and liberate the worlds of the Metaverse.

It’s nearly impossible to summarize a game this big, or this complete. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey lives up to its Homeric namesake in scope and scale, adding fantastic new elements to the solid foundation Origins laid before it. For me, it’s easily the best Assassin’s Creed game to date, and I can’t wait to keep playing it long after the credits roll.

Neva: Prologue is an excellent scenario for a short story-focused DLC. It introduces some engaging new content and continues to build on the lore and characters we grew to love in the base game. It's short, but it tells the entire story, and at $3, it's more than reasonably priced. If you enjoyed Neva, you should absolutely play the prologue.

It’s amazing to see such a passionate debut title from Studio Sai. Eternights elegantly blends in addicting and engaging action combat with dating mechanics while providing beautiful visuals and excellent voice acting. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this small team of developers.

Where the Heart Leads is almost impossible to put down thanks to its strong characters, deep story and attention to detail. The game is brought down only by its minor inconveniences such as bugs and typos that detract only a little from the main experience. For fans of narrative games, this is a must-play, but even those who do not consider themselves fans of the genre might find something they relate to in this game.

With an emotional story and touch-based combat that feels both clever and natural, Severed is an excellent game that will stick with you long after you’ve finished playing.

It's too bad that Gun is so short because I could have easily devoted more time to playing such a refreshing title.

Two Point Campus: Space Academy is more of what you love the game with a sci-fi twist. The three new maps and six courses each present something new and unique with something to enjoy for players of all skill levels. While it’s not ideal for newcomers, this excellent management sim just keeps getting better.

Among the Whispers - Provocation takes the formula that Conrad Stevenson’s Paranormal PI introduced, streamlines the pacing, and adds a strong story with a killer setting. Any fan of single-player ghost-hunting games should consider this one a buy.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a veritable feast of improvements over not only its predecessors but the whole genre. There are occasionally obtuse moments, but these minor issues are overshadowed by improvements at every possible turn. If you’re looking for your next city builder, this is it.

Having multiple Lords to hunt and take down, each with their own unique territory and play style, greatly helps Village stand out from previous entries. Bringing back a merchant, giving hunting and fishing options, an upgraded inventory system, allowing the story to go absolutely off the rails, and switching the gameplay to be more action focused, even though I understand that may upset some players, all combined to help Village stand out from previous entries while still feeling unique. Upon completion I immediately spent my CP and hopped back into the campaign, the greatest compliment I can give any game. Village may very well be my new favorite entry in the series.

Mad Rat Dead is a game that has a massive amount of heart, both literally and figuratively. The game’s killer soundtrack and innovatively slick gameplay will dazzle rhythm game veterans, and it has a unique charming style that’s unmatched by the competition. It’s time to catch the beat and fall madly in love with Mad Rat Dead.

CoR leaves you wanting more, not because it is short, but because it is good.

Seven Days is a visual novel that focuses on themes of life, relationships, and loss. It's filled with charming characters, cute moments, and funny dialogue, but also heartbreaking moments and plenty of loss. If you want a powerful story, you've got one, but be ready to sink a good deal of time into helping these girls.

Minecraft is still the same great game, and it feels right at home on the Switch. It feels awesome to take the game on the go with such tight controls and accessibility, the online functionality is excellent, and the game is still a ton of fun to play with friends.

One of the best games to come out of the indie dev scene in recent years, Desktop Dungeons takes the best aspects of a roguelike dungeon crawl, distills them down to the essentials, and puts a tactical, puzzle-minded spin on the genre that is not only unique, but brilliantly executed.

While Helldivers 2 may look like a tropey action game on the surface, what lies underneath is one of the most fun co-op shooters I’ve played in recent memory. Endless explosions and unyielding foes makes for heart-pounding gameplay as you spread democracy across the galaxy one dead bug and bot at a time.

Dark Souls 2 for the PC is a far cleaner port attempt than the first Dark Souls port.

Another Code: Recollection brings together puzzle-solving, fun stories with twists and turns, and very interesting characters and lore all in one place. This is a wonderful remake of the games that came out in 2005 and 2009. While the games aren’t too long, together, they make for a fun time by yourself or solving the mysteries with friends.

A top notch bullet hell experience racked out with character options, unlockables, and some charming dialogue, Assault Android Cactus is a top shelf choice of any shooter addict. A lack of online co-op is unfortunate, if understandable, and the characters – while cute and expressive – may be a bit too adorable for some.

With an endearing, violent, and engaging story, AI: The Somnium Files is an adventure game that fans of the visual novel genre should not miss. With a novel puzzle-solving mechanic and impressive voice performances, this game is a dream come true.

The sound this year is exceptional and easily stands out as the biggest aesthetic addition to this year’s game.

The Bethesda Pack for Pinball FX3 adds another set of three great pinball tables to the already vast lineup. The tables are creatively designed and the similarities to their respective games is amazing. The methods of completing missions can be complicated, but at the same time, that adds to the depth. Taking the time to explore all three worlds is definitely worth it.

Slime-san is a surprisingly refreshing twitch-based platformer that will put a smile on anyone’s face. Its sharp controls mixed with brutal but balanced difficulty, as well as some well-done pixelated graphics, makes Slime-san a must buy for anyone looking for some platforming goodness.

In short, DJ Hero is just what the music game genre needs- a breath of fresh air, a taste of new music, and a style all its own.

Bendy and the Ink Machine takes players down a corrupted nostalgia trip, full of old school cartoon characters mixed with twisted horror. Exploration, puzzle solving, and the occasional fight are the name of the game, even if the save system could be better. If you don't enter Joey Drew Studios for the gameplay, you'll be enthralled by the story.

A ridiculous amount of fun... for a while. I truly love the game and have had an absolute blast while playing, but parts of it will eventually wear on you. There are very few unique environments and combat animations, and the dancing mini-game and other elements will eventually test your patience.

Mr. X Nightmare is a quality addition to an already quality game. You can feel the care taken to bring in the new characters without wrecking the balance of the game, the fantastic soundtrack, and a great new mode that’s positively addicting and well-made.

Warlords of Draenor is the pinnacle of a game we’ve been playing for over 10 years now. It’s absolutely the most polished version, with stunningly beautiful world design and a wonderful soundtrack that will fill you with awe during the course of your adventure.

Hades is a fantastic game and is really worth all the acclaim and praise its received thus far. The game's amazing ability to both engage and challenge you is worthy of applaud and the now that the game is available on all platforms many more players will be able to enjoy this spectacular title.

Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood does the bare minimum, but it’s still well worth playing. While there are no extras included in this anthology, the two games it contains are some of the best ever made, and one of them has been pretty difficult to come by until now. Aside from the replacement of Symphony of the Night’s wonderfully campy voice acting, both games are delivered in perfect shape and are still as worth playing today as they’ve ever been.

Battleborn merges cooperative and competitive, hero and shooter, loot and shoot into an excellent melting pot and symbol of the times. Charismatic characters, clever intricacies, and compelling gameplay make this one of the best multiplayer experiences of the generation yet.