For what it is, however, Shift is a fun game and is probably the most accessible sim racer for casual fans or newcomers to the genre.

Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection is a must-have for any fans of pinball, and well worth checking out by anybody who is just looking for a fun game that offers something different from the run of the mill shooters, RPGs, and action titles that dominate the holiday release schedule.

Despite the omitted tune, Final Fantasy XIII overall is a high quality RPG that is worth every ounce of the hype. It most likely won't change the minds of those who dislike JRPGs, but fans of the genre will love every minute of the 70-100 hours they will invest.

Cries to be played by fans of the series and fans of "GoldenEye."

The decision to take the franchise to a darker place was not a bad idea ' UbiSoft simply took it a tad far and the game has lost connection with series' roots, as anyone who looks at or plays the title without knowledge of its connection of the venerable series would probably require some convincing to accept that yes, this action game was an entry in the Prince of Persia franchise.

A solid and downright addictive open-ended action title.

Madden has finally entered the next-generation with a fierce new look and some ability to flex some powerful new features like Madden IQ.

Just Cause 2 isn't going to win any awards for its story, but it will pick up accolades for the astonishing amount of activities and collecting to do on the island of Panau.

The simple joy of web-slinging will be remembered as one of the best gameplay experiences of 2004. Easily the best use of the open-ended gameplay structure since the original "Grand Theft Auto."

There's a fabulous Xbox Live Arcade game with stellar art and music, compelling gameplay about time manipulation, and no, it's not Braid. Comparisons to 2008's Xbox Live darling Braid are inevitable, but The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom is no simple copycat.

The story and classic modes both could've been much better, and the lack of online options puts this one leagues behind the PS2 version.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a game that every PSP owner should go out and buy.

It's debatable whether or not this is the best Wario Ware to date, but it's definitely worth checking out for longtime fans and newcomers to the series.

With the inclusion of the two button gameplay for beginners, World Cup is a safe buy for soccer fans, casual and hardcore alike.

While there isn't a whole lot to compare it to, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword is still easily the best action experience on the DS.

There aren't a ton of sweeping differences between the PS3 and 360 versions of Ninja Gaiden 2 that were released a year apart from each other.

When you balance out the positive and negative aspects in Guitar Hero III, you're left with scale tipping very strongly in the positive.

Alan Wake doesn't revolutionize the video game medium, but it will definitely get inside gamers' heads.

It's not exactly Grand Theft Auto caliber, but Bully: Scholarship Edition is still an entertaining open-world romp through Bullworth Academy.

Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days is a great PSP title and the best strategy-RPGs available on the system.

This year, more than any other, it feels like NCAA won't be a stop gap until Madden hits the store shelves and can stand on its own by offering a different experience that the NFL can't match.

In many ways, Harvest Moon: Magical Melody is the best in the franchise. Why? Because it offers so many more options and choices than any previous title in it.

Even if the interface is over-designed, this is the closest thing to a true evolution to Mario Paint this generation might see.

This is the best WipEout game to date, make no bones about it.

Incredible controls, solid gameplay, beautiful graphics, and an engaging storyline.

The original Rainbow Six Vegas received a high score because it felt like an exciting step forward for the tactical shooter at the time it was released. The sequel doesn't bring the same sense of excitement, but that doesn't make it a bad game.

It would be totally unfair to judge Korg as a game. As a tool, it is surprising powerful and flexible. The limitations will become apparent once you start noodling around with what Korg can and can't do. Gamers who also happen to be musicians will get a lot of use out of the tool and will be in awe of the versatility of the DS.

Open Tee 2 is another welcome addition to the Hot Shots family.