Every minute of Guitar Hero III has been an exciting experience.

Enthralling from beginning to end, and the fact that it deserves its place alongside some of the greatest games ever made is achievement enough.

As an action game, Crysis could be the best first-person shooter ever, blending over-the-top gunning and dazzling pyrotechnics with enough freedom to make you feel like the cunning badass you always wanted to be. It's an immensely satisfying, richly detailed experience.

There’s a reason it's defeated Halo for the top spot on the Live charts. It's simply that good.

Space Giraffe does an incredible job of tying score to performance, and the feeling that there's always a way to squeeze a few more points out of a level provides amazing replay value.

Playing around with all this just might make you realize that while the individual components of Halo 3 aren't all top class, the sheer number of them offers more game hours of solid enjoyment than nearly anything else on the market, for any console.

There is no higher point in Mario platforming than this, and given the height of galactic situations, only something far off the spectrum like Super Mario Micro or Super Mario Universe ad nauseam could possibly topple it in terms of scale and evolution in game design.

Every 360 owner needs to make this part of their collection. Just make sure to step away from your chair, and occasionally embrace reality; something I often have the custom of forgetting.

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 varies from amazing to simply good, but it'd be worth the money at twice the price if you haven't already experienced any of it before.

It's a lot of (very familiar) fun, but like an overpriced concert t-shirt, there's no escaping the feeling that it's not quite the value it looked when enthusiasm had free reign over your wallet.

Nevertheless, it remains a beautiful, engaging and ridiculously addictive game much thanks to its ludicrous amount of details, bubbles and cel-shading.

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.

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.

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?

Thankfully, there are a ton of multiplayer options to keep your itchy finger on the trigger.

Another successful release for NIS, this puzzle adventure offers plenty of single player challenges and a solid multiplayer mode.

Jeanne D'Arc skillfully balances an engrossing story with equally impressive combat.

It may seem as if Arc System Works is whoring out the series for everything it's worth and while that may be true, Accent Core is a much different game to those who have played it before.

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.

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.

Even with its lack of car tweaking, painting, and/or upgrading features that are by now de rigeur in modern racing games, Sega Rally Revo remains a rollicking good time, sticking firmly to its arcade-style roots.

A couple of years ago it was easy to recommend the must-own titles on the PSP, but with so many stellar games these days, I'll simply say that if Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions disappoints you, then maybe this genre isn't what your looking for.

This is a game meant to be enjoyed, not induce frustration.

Skipping through years of Resident Evil mythos never feels rushed, for the game mostly progresses at just the right pace and makes it entirely worth experiencing.

Just don't draw any conclusions until you've played the game from beginning to end.

It's great to see Dimps and Sonic Team really hit the bull's-eye. The classic Sonic games stand among the best 2D platformers ever, and it's been difficult to see the franchise lose much of its former glory.

Brilliant stuff. Where else can a bubbly fallen angel butt heads with a bratty, ambitious prince hoping to become Overlord of the Netherworld?

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.

The quality design will give this the staying power it needs, as long as the community is there to support it.

By testing your brain rather than your brawn, it stands out against the too-common controller-wagglers.

While there have been some changes and remodeling in the time off, this is more of the same good stuff as the first season. If the craving for more has hit you by now, this will make the perfect stocking stuffer.

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.

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.

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.

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).

The biggest complaint lodged against the title is that the characters battling in the center of the action are merely blown up sprites and not remastered in HD like the rest of the game.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

While it may not have universal appeal, it's a superbly polished and eminently playable offering on a platform that still awaits a defining set of exclusives. It may not wind up selling any systems on its own, but it's still a worthy gem.

The arranged soundtrack is the greatest gift this collection has to offer.

I just wish it had been a little less polished and a little more ambitious, focusing more on the story and developing additional abilities for the player to gain as the action progresses. It'll never be game of the year, but it's a solid experience no FPS fan should overlook.

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

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.

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 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.

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

THQ had an opportunity to cash in on an expensive license with a barely-there effort, but instead decided to spend the time and resources necessary to build a racing game that offers lots of fun for kids and fans of the movie.

Stranglehold is a solid single player experience that deserves at least a second run in one of the higher difficulties, even if it does repeat itself a little too frequently.

Like any good tool, though, the amount of enjoyment gotten from Jam Sessions is going to be directly related to how much work goes in.

[Trials and Tribulations] much like the titles that preceded it, is fueled by a quirky and colorful cast that you'll remember long after the experience is over.

While it's definitely polished, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars isn't as much of a feast for the eyes as more recent releases.

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.

A stellar hoops experience that continues to build on a strong foundation of collegiate basketball excellence.

Despite the all-but-broken strategy of the core gameplay, Puzzle Quest can easily knock hours off the clock without trying.

I've been a sucker for the pulse-pounding excitement of the MotoGP race days for a few years now, and couldn't be happier with how MotoGP 07 turned out.

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.

Soul Nomad is a pretty strange game... but what emerges is a game with an old aesthetic, but new twists, making gameplay fresh and exciting.

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.

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.

It isn’t the prettiest title for the Wii, but if RPGs tickle your fancy, it’s still worth a try.

It's not impossible to learn the button layout, and the camera gets a little less broken with practice. Exploring the vast world of Monster Hunter is a lot of fun, and there are so many well thought-out systems that it seems like there's always something new to discover or create.

More often than not, Bloodshot is one step forward and one step back. For every progression, there is a setback that shines some light on the dark atmosphere and spoils the unique sense of dread that permeated its predecessor.

Devil May Cry 4 is an excellent example of gilding the lily, with the beauty of its fighting engine weighted down by all the excesses ham-handedly piled on top.

As long as developers continue to chase after "jaw dropping" graphics we'll have to continue to be content with ho-hum AI players.

Luxor: Pharaoh's Curse brings the ball-shooting puzzler to the desert, and it's an excellent version of the PC casual-gaming standard.

I haven’t made it to the Lair of the Golden Condor yet, but I'll give it a go every once in a while. It's a great way to kill some time and enjoy a style of gameplay we don’t often see anymore.

The final level, which should have been the deciding factor in a game constantly wobbling between pretty fun and mildly aggravating, became tarnished by the drudgework of forced repetition. NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams still ends up being a decent game, but it should have been so much better.

The action is solid and fun, but ultimately lacks anything truly exceptional to stand out from the pack.

It's more visually appealing than anyone could expect, while the varied missions and weapons kept me on my toes throughout the short but satisfying campaign.

With both local and full wireless support, you can't go wrong having a portable version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.

While the combat can be rough and punitive, and the graphics won't make you stand up and shout, its whole is greater than the sum of its parts. While by no means a perfect game, it offers a fun and decidedly different take that's unique to the PlayStation 3 platform.

ZX Advent packs an ample challenge that will chase away many of those groomed on easier 2D action games like the recent Castlevanias.

Though the pacing is quite nice for a 40 hour quest, you spend way too much time gallivanting about the land to just level up. The scenery may be pretty, but it's a chore to go through.

If you can ignore the occasional glitches and poorly thought out menus, Two Worlds can be a fantastic single player experience. Just don't buy for Xbox Live...at least not yet.

Gripshift tries to do a lot of thing, and while it doesn't succeed at everything there's a huge amount of content available for what it does best.

The amazing thing is that, despite these issues, Commando 3 still manages to be a lot of fun.

Capcom of Japan is learning from the West in their game design, and learning how to do a PC port the right way. It's clear that this is alien territory for them, and they have missed some opportunities along the way. Still, they have created an enjoyable game and a port that satisfies, even if it isn't as grand as it could have been.

The greatest illusion accomplished by Time Crisis 4, aside from making the player feel masculine while controlling two of the most flamboyant leads in shooter history, is the transformation of your PlayStation 3 into a full-blown arcade machine.

What it lacks is the spark that elevates a merely decent game to greatness, but it's still a fun time for people who dig the duck and shoot style gameplay.

It's best to get Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends for a younger relative, and then borrow it when they aren't looking.

If you're not into the challenge of doing something over and over trying to get your name higher on a leaderboard there won't be much here for you.

If you own a Wii, I recommend you hold out and wait for that version, which features an interesting alternate control scheme and full online play.

If you can round up at least three friends online, the game's problems and shortcomings tend to fade into the background.

Though some games are more fun than others, they're all classics, and always worth revisiting.

Even with its issues though, MX vs ATV: Untamed is a rollicking good time, incredibly well-suited for a portable platform.

Revenant Wings remains a fun, simple, moderately challenging RTS for the DS. It doesn’t add anything vital to the original game’s storyline, nor is it of the same caliber of storytelling, though for how lighthearted it may feel, its simplicity will welcome newcomers to RTS games with open arms.

If you're willing to overlook the length and price issues though, then Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law becomes a fun extension of the series.

Definitely not the worst choice for your PSP, but it’s sad to see the stalwart Sonic standing on such unsteady feet these days.

Still, the nostalgia factor wears thin pretty quickly, and the tennis isn't deep enough to keep you playing this title longer than a couple of hours.

A brilliant idea on paper.

In the end, though, the biggest problem with Avatar, just as it was with its counterpart on the DS, is its almost criminally short length.

While it doesn't embarrass itself or insult gamers, it's not going to be near the top of the list of must-have titles for youngsters this holiday season.