While the adventure elements are weak, the writing and combat make up for it nicely.

No matter how you slice it, Sony's first Singstar on the PS3 is a triumph.

R-Type Command is an excellent chunk of addictive gaming set in a military sci-fi space opera, and an easy recommendation for anyone with the small amount of patience a good strategy game requires.

There's a lot to like in this simple and bizarre little game, with the potential for limitless content and a good variety of mazes already available.

In spite of a few valid criticisms, Mario Kart Wii is a ton of fun, albeit being the same experience as always wrapped in a different package.

This is my third time playing Ikaruga, and I'm still not very good at it, but somehow that doesn't matter. Each play is a joy, and each small improvement a delight.

Mana Khemia offers plenty of humor, great looking 2D graphics, solid music, and a combat system that makes the turn-based approach a little more hands on.

Crisis Core is a triple-A tour de force with enough panache and stylistic flavor to infuse your PSP with enough mako energy to last you ten lifetimes.

While it doesn't break new ground, Hot Shots Golf: Out Of Bounds is an undeniably fun game that just about anyone can play and enjoy.

Ultimately, God of War: Chains of Olympus is a supremely impressive game that just might be the best title yet for the PSP.

It's a near-perfect baseball package, sporting a barrel full of improvements from last season, gorgeous animations, solid online support, and the most compelling single-player mode you could ever ask for.

Given the sometimes frustratingly difficult missions, when you do down that boss by the slimmest of margins or push those Zigotons out of another area, it feels like a real accomplishment. It’s these moments when Patapon truly excels.

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is a powerful, bombastic exercise in mayhem.

The Club is one of those rare games where the demo is truly representative of the final product. If you didn't care for the demo, then this club isn't for you.

It feels more like WipEout Pure 2 than an original title of its own, but there are so many options, customizable features and settings, as well as online play and expected developer downloads, that makes Pulse to go from a teetering try to a full must-buy.

It's a Japanese import that is a little off the beaten track; a puzzle game with a story. Unfortunately, the concept and its curious title might cause the causal DS crowd to overlook it. It would be their loss.

Poker Smash is a rock solid bit of gaming, and an easy recommend for anyone who's ever found clearing out thousands of tiles a fun way to spend an evening's gaming.

Pixeljunk Monsters is the sworn enemy of a good night's rest, but who's got time to sleep when one more round is calling?

Overall, the direction is very solid and I applaud Criterion's bravery for getting out of their comfort zone to explore a new horizon, instead of pondering what could have been.

There's a rare occurrence with most games that are so unique that their shortcomings are heavily outweighed by their strong points. No More Heroes could likely be at the Mecca of a root of examples of this, as it's glaring technical problems of framerate issues and repetitious play are heavily overshadowed by the sheer fun you'll have chopping people in half with your beam sword.

Compared to other Sam and Max adventures, this is a short one. There are fewer locales to check out than usual, but that lets it tell a nicely condensed story that amuses well before it frustrates (and free hints are better than no hints, anyway).

While lacking a bit of the depth and complexity of King of Fighters XI, Neogeo Battle Coliseum makes up for it in character variety.

It's shallow, very easy, and tells a goofy story with all the sap of an after school special. That said, it's a very good kids' game, with some fresh ideas, and a unique blend of gameplay styles that make for a very appealing package.

If you're willing to forgive some slowdown in your shooters and if you were ever a fan of the first two Geometry Wars games then this is one DS game you shouldn't pass up.

With so much on disc content, and plenty of downloadable content being rolled out, Rock Band is an investment that will keep you and your friends rocking for a long time to come.

It would have been improved immensely by true, accurate aiming, but even without it's always a good time blowing away terrorists and earning new weapons for the next play-through.

A controller that takes a bit of getting used to, a few wonky levels, and a weak ending are hardly the worst problems a game can face. The journey to Geometry Wars mastery is a fun and addicting one, and each level can be considered its own game by the series's earlier standards.

Each patient is something different, but the theme of the game keeps Trauma Center from becoming yet another minigame-fest.