An incredible game, but there are other, cheaper options that are available to cash-strapped gamers.

If a little more time was spent tweaking graphics, as well as fully developing the forensic elements of the game, I think Condemned could have been close to perfect.

The game has an enormous amount of charm, and it mixes old school with new school almost seamlessly.

With only one month to go, it seems like an easy recommendation to anyone with a PC to pick up this game.

This new type of multiplayer is worth the purchase of the game itself but the only down fall is trying to find another player (or three) that owns a copy of the game.

The combat system is innovative and one of a kind. One might even make the claim that it is flawless. The value of this game is incredible.

The game is very accessible to veterans and newbies alike, and it offers a great single and multiplayer experience.

With a perfect sense of humor, a new bold design, a vintage graphical style and gameplay perfectly suited for a portable system, Half Minute Hero is one game that cannot be missed by PSP owners or any fan of an RPG.

All the versions of this game are great, and now the GameCube version is not the ugly duckling like in other years. Now GC owners have a great soccer game to add to their library, and overall one of the most fun and popular sports games around.

The Penal Zone is a really good adventure game, and has the chances of being the best Season of Sam & Max that has come along, but it still has some minor bugs to work out with the interface.

If you have enjoyed any version of Arkanoid, or Breakout, then Shatter is worth a purchase. It might even be worth it for some people that don’t even enjoy the genre that much, it is that good.

Yes, this is still Tetris, the same game we have been playing for over 20 years, but this download is such a complete package, it could very well retail as a boxed title for double the amount of the money it costs to download it.

A visually stunning game that will keep many Star Wars fans happy for many hours. My biggest complaint is that once you’re not in the various crafts the game can be a little boring and you find yourself dreaming the AT-ATS.

The only problem here is that we have no full-blown two-player co-op. Other than that, this game is packed to the gills and well worth your time.

The shoot-'em-up action is nonstop, and the character acting is hilarious. The varied modes allow for almost infinite replay value.

Featuring some of the best visuals and voice acting currently on the market, it will please anyone looking for an aesthetically pleasing game.

However, if you come into this with a longing for the adventure games of decades past, or simply want to have a video game experience that hasn’t really been done before, then this game hits right on the mark.

This game will make you carry your PSP around with you wherever you go in hopes of finding a new random access point to unlock a new soldier.

Combining the best in graphics, physics and sound, Gran Turismo 4 is nothing short of breathtaking.

It has a superb cast of characters with a great variety of moves, a unique (though flawed) single player experience, and the given multiplayer fun.

Max & the Magic Marker is well worth a purchase for anyone who has a younger PC gamer in the house.

The ability to let you and three of your friends jump onto a single console and play together is great and should be applauded. This is more than most companies are willing to do in an era when online multiplayer means more copies sold and revenue through unnecessary subscriptions doesn't need justification.

It's mechanically wonderful, visually awesome, and not terribly innovative in plot. If you're new to the Elder Scrolls or RPGs, by all means, jump in here.

If you want a highly polished and lavishly designed MMORPG set across a sprawling fantasy world made popular by millions of devoted fans, then I strongly advise that you familiarize yourself with World of Warcraft immediately.

Darwinia will remind you that videogames can be an art form as well as great entertainment.

From beginning to end, Snake Eater is hugely enjoyable—putting the PS2 controller down and walking away from the console has never been so difficult.

Anybody who enjoyed Grand Theft Auto will be able to jump into Red Dead Redemption and have a good time.

The amount of things to do in the cities of Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas is absolutely staggering... In my opinion there’s no excuse to not have a “save anywhere” feature included.

What may be one of Batman’s worst nights of his life may end up being one of many players’ best experiences of the year.

L.A. Noire feels and plays like an attempt at doing what Uncharted did in regards to Indiana Jones, in translating its genre of crime drama to video games. Despite its flaws and the one game-freezing glitch I ran into, it's worthwhile to explore the detailed city streets that might as well be a time capsule from the 1940s. Although this ambitious combination open-world adventure with complicated cases fell flat at times, Rockstar has certainly laid down a solid base for games like L.A. Noire to grow from.

Rocket Ride is a great game for the XBLA. The simple, but addictive, gameplay mechanics make this a perfect fit for the downloadable platform.

Remember mom and dad – Bully's just a game. And in games as in life, everyone has the freedom to choose whether or not to play by the rules.

Divinity II is simply a great game. While there might be some odd little shortfalls that pop up that keep it from the halls of true greatness, there really is just so much going for it in the way of immersive world and enjoyable gameplay that it is worth exploring.

Considering many of the missteps that the newer SimCity games have taken I am more than happy to say that Cities XL is more than able to contain the mantle of spiritual successor.

While the gameplay has some flaws, it is on the whole solid, and there is enough game there to enjoy for a good length of time.

The lack of an inventory, the streamlined nature of the game (approximately twenty hours of play), and the real-time combat may be off-putting to some.

Players of all skill levels will enjoy mastering every facet of their superpowers, all while facing increasingly challenging foes and learning new more powerful abilities.

While HD Remix is definitely the better game on the whole, SF4 is still worthy of your time.

A month ago, I liked Summon Night as a single innovative game. Now, I like it as a quality series. It manages to do what so many other series neglect: Improve while not loosing identity.

With appealing graphics, extremely challenging gameplay, along with keen sounds, and a two second learning curve, Diablo II provides the ultimate experience.

If you are a tower defense fan, you need to download the full version of this game. And if you are a not a fan of the genre, Defense Grid just might have enough in its bag of tricks to convert you.

Wild, desperate battles, a cohesive storyline resplendent with authentic characters, stunning visuals, and a superb soundtrack—Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault is one of the best shooters on the market.

Koei's fresh burst of creativity is a relief from the other music games that just don't quite cut it.

Though the gameplay in general consists of nothing drastically new, the style and narrative flair that oozes from this game really do deserve attention from the gaming public.

It looks great, contains solid gameplay, and has a wonderful sense of balance in almost every aspect.

A fun, fast paced shooter with lots of multiplayer action. It is not, however, the be all and end all of gaming that the hype machine has unfailingly claimed.

Make no mistake about it, whether you’re an adventure gaming junkie who misses the days of old, or a wet-behind-the-ears adventurer eager to see why this genre is (still) one of the best, The Longest Journey belongs in your collection.

Its excellent gameplay distant it from the other hockey games and the great level of control over the players separates it from the past years of the series, and offers an immensely improved experience.

With great graphics, a good story, and wonderful sound Call of Duty 4 is a solid game for any shooter fan.

The music is just as quirky as the gameplay.

The addictive gameplay is good enough to play for a quick five-minute round or a gaming session that can last for hours. Once the player becomes adjusted to using the stylus, the addictive qualities will shine through, especially when there are so many things to unlock.

There has never been a better time to jump on the FFIV bandwagon. The extras and lower price point more than justifies the content and quality in this collection. More added value is included with the purchase of the game as it ships with a download code for Dissidia 012: Duodecim (a new skin for Cecil) and character cards. Fans and newcomers should eat this one up.

I dare say that Custom Robo Arena is my favorite action game for the DS, due to its endless experimentation, strategy and replayability.

The split in styles between single and online play takes advantage of the strengths and necessities in each, and really pulls the game together.

Not even "New Super Mario Bros." has topped this game. An instant Sonic classic.

Stranger's Wrath does present a challenge, but is never mind-numbingly difficult.

Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City is a huge step in the right direction of the series and it's made me nothing but excited for the already announced forth game in the series that will be coming out on the 3DS.

Without a doubt, Episode 4- Dangeresque 3 is the best Strong Bad chapter to date.

It may not be the most innovative shooter to come along this year, but it certainly is one of the best put together shooters of the year and a definite recommendation to any shooter fan.

Bayonetta is made for the hardcore gamer. Its sensationally over-the-top style may turn a few players off but underneath all that flash, style, and madness is one of the most engaging, satisfying combat systems in action games today.

Whether you’re stuck in a waiting room at the doctor’s office or looking for a way to pass the time in that boring econ class you’re stuck in, Lumines provides some of the most fulfilling gameplay sessions ever engineered on a handheld.

The challenge may be extremely difficult, but players will have tons of fun in the process. Honors should be given because this is the first 3D handheld game to be ported from a 3D game on a 3D system.

The Commissioned Officers Edition is a great way to update the rather painful experience of entering EVE for the first time, even if there is still a couple of pacing problems that pop up at some point in its life.

Strategy fans will fall in love with Fire Emblem.

Improvements in the difficulty, a smart retooling of the games stages and a whole lot of extra modes and add-ons make this game the definitive version of Ninja Gaiden out on consoles, as well as one of the deepest and most satisfying action adventure games available.

Definitely an improvement over the original-which was not exactly a bad game itself. The controls are executed well, which makes the gameplay close to terrific.

A mild revolution. It brings freshness to the series without making a great deal of changes. Only calculated risks where taken here.

Along with the recently released "Shadowhearts," Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is a breath of fresh air. It has a unique premise, great game play, and high production values. Then there is the gripping storyline, the most important part of any RPG.

It's a beat-'em-up with a real story and not just mindless button mashing. If you're of age and want to see where brawlers of the future should be headed, you should definitely check out TheWarriors.

Sam and Max may have dated graphics, wonky lip-syncs, and a play style that hasn’t been seen in almost a decade but the game consistently becomes more than the sum of its parts.

This game could literally be re-released in mere months with sliders, higher difficulty modes and more options, ala Ninja Gaiden Black, and sell like hotcakes.

For a price of $7.99, this download-only title provides an entertaining, but short, gameplay experience. The few hours that you will spend with this game, however, will definitely be entertaining.

An incredibly polished package that veterans and newcomers alike will quickly fall in love with.

This game offers a lot to action adventure fans especially ones that have memories of classic 8-bit titles.

Don’t be turned off by the Jedi-free element to this game. Republic Commando proves that the Star Wars universe has a lot more to offer, and ideas at LucasArts are still abundant.

MSF2004 does an amazing job at incorporating history into the simulation, and it sets itself aside from the other flight sims in the series, and from any flight sim for that matter.

When all is said and done, Soul Calibur IV is a solid choice for any fan of the series and fighting games in general.

It completely changes the way an entire genre is played.

Even though the puzzles can be challenging, the game’s addictive nature and sense of satisfaction is rarely seen at this level on the DS.

Persona is a great package that is worth the price, regardless of the purchasing method.

The good news is that it has an abundance of new features that, rather than taking over the basic goals, instead complements them. It's an expansion that actually expands on the core game, so if you're getting a little bored with the basic package it's a good bet.

Boxing games will never be the same after the incredible and addictive Fight Night Round 2 that not only sheds new light to the genre but to another boxing classic of the NES days: Super Punch Out!

Nothing short of impressive. It spans all three films and, not only relates the story that we already know, but also spins a new one too. There are no real areas of weakness here.

It isn't exactly revolutionary, but there are some key moments in the game that just had me grinning from ear to ear.

So while Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People may have come to an end, it is still one of the more impressive point and click adventure games that came out in 2008 and firmly deserves a look.

The battles require some thought and are a blast to execute, but can often still be completed in ten minutes or so—depending on the battle.

While it is rather hard to call this episode out as being the best in the season without pointing directly at every other episode and explaining that they are firmly the reasons it is like that, this is simply the best of the bunch.

Baten Kaitos has a couple main goals: to be beautiful technologically and to be a long adventure. Those goals are achieved with flying colors (literally).

The replay value can be summed up in one word: Multiplayer. This is where Tiger Woods 2005 truly shines. Two great golfing players will have matches go down to one mistake, or one lucky shot, which will add to the tension and the desire to do better.

The game's important story is now critical to the evolving RE plot thanks to "Resident Evil 4." So, if you want to knowingly absorb all that RE4's story presents, you should definitely take a creepy walk down memory lane.

The game looks great on a high end gaming PC, and will even run on pretty much anything with a dedicated video card, so most people who even have a passing interest really should check the game out. Sadly the cost of admission might be the one thing that would keep the people who would really enjoy the game away from it.

While it is hard to give the advice to run out and purchase this game, it deserves a rental and a couple of hours of play. If you can make it through inventing curse words during that time, it is a clear purchase.

It's an excellent game, and definitely worth checking out for racing nuts, casual gamers, and anyone who wants to just practicing crashing into oncoming traffic.

While The Sims 2 delivers great graphics, wonderful music, and a ton of new features and objects; I have to say the minimum requirements should be higher. I have more RAM than it suggests but still feel I need a beefier video card to get rid of the slight glitches that seem to occur while changing views.

If the $15 price tag makes you question such a gamble, just know that there is plenty of content to be had. While the main story quest can be completed in a few hours, each area has a multitude of secrets, from special challenges to complete and dolls to find as well as Hi-jinks that make use of the crazier abilities.

Solid in virtually every way, it’ll more than tide you over till Devil May Cry 3 comes along.

Relic and THQ once more offer up a sublime strategy game, graced with top-notch graphics, an exciting and epic storyline and a tons of character.

While the story is beyond confusing and gets further complicated by the cockamamie Japanese nuances and character archetypes, the game is still something that can be comfortably tackled by veteran RPG players.