Last year's game, with a few more bells and whistles.

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.

Creating havoc has not been this much fun since players were first treated to GTA3 many years ago.

Once you hit that first chip in eagle, you will be hooked, and you might even forget all about the lack of online play.

The game is rather forgiving in the sense that it passes out free lives like tap water, but the dastardly soundtrack is not.

Multiplayer modes notwithstanding, this is an awesome title with a grown-up storyline, not only for its subject matter (how many 10-year-olds know what a Soviet or The Cold War is?), but also for its twists and political implications.

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

GoldenEye Wii is nowhere near a straight port of the N64 classic and it is not supposed to be. Instead, players are treated with a classic experience but told through fresh eyes; the experience is impressive.

The developers behind the game have done an excellent job with their first expansion for The Sims 2. They already had a brilliant game to begin with, and the aspects they have added with University only work to increase that brilliance.

For those who really love games, it's worth picking up for its aesthetic value and its unique gameplay. If you subsist on a diet of Madden and GTA, however, look elsewhere.

Still, the PC version of Plants vs. Zombies remains the one that most gamers will want to start with, but if you only have a DS or want a full-featured portable version of the game, the slowdown is the only major problem with the port.

Ultimately, the game has a lot to offer actual gamers. While it sometimes feels like more of a quality WiiWare/PSN/Live Arcade game, I encourage you to pick it up.

For all other RPG fans looking for something turn-based to play, checking out the series is something worth doing, but playing the first two games is a must before considering getting into this one.

When you put together how fun Sam and Max: Culture Shock is to play, all the added content you get from GameTap, and how funny the interchange between Sam and Maxthemselves are, this game makes for a perfect fit.

Perhaps the single greatest addition to Deception is the revolutionary online versus mode. So far the servers are amazingly free of lag, which would all but kill this timing-sensitive game.

Nintendo as of late have been the masters of repackaging their own products, and it pleases me to say that they have done well with Pokémon FireRed.

Though editing options fall short of what would be a must-have basketball title, NBA 2K6 is arguably the best sports title for the 360 right now.

In the very least, it's a fun way to get bragging rights over your friends without actually inflicting pain, and hey, it could be worse - we could be playing "Raw 3."

Should you buy Ninja Gaiden II? If you loved the first one, yes…but make sure you do so for the right reasons, namely the weapons and new additions to the system.

Nintendo as of late have been the masters of repackaging their own products, and it pleases me to say that they have done well with Pokémon LeafGreen.

Laid back and all encompassing arcade action it may not be (yet), but it is obviously striving to reach those player accessible goals—while not abandoning its nurtured and honed simulation attributes in the hopes of becoming the perfect soccer experience.

The only negative aspect about this game is that we are going to have to wait a while for another installment.

The poorly designed power shot idea is enough to force any buyer of this game to ship their copy on a one-way trip to hell.

Although Ace Combat is far from perfect, it still offers entertainment. This game is one of the few titles to actually marry the idea of realistic graphics mixed with arcadey controls and gameplay.

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.

If you’re a fan of the series and have some local competition, the overall gameplay is the best the series has to offer yet. Otherwise, I would recommend waiting a bit to see if the online will be fixed in a timely matter.

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

While the GBA version of this game isn't quite on par with it's siblings on the Wii, DS and PS2, it's still a simple and enjoyable game from start to finish.

The game also has a number of bugs that freeze the game up during battles or when you save.

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.

Overall, there really isn’t anything to terrible to say about Eternal Sonata. The first hours are definitely the slowest part of the game and are very “Japanese,” but any RPG fan will enjoy the balanced combat system and haunting musical score.

Almost everything that Dungeon Siege did well, DS2 does better (the anemic and frustrating Save Game system notwithstanding).

SSX On Tour feels very similar to its immediate predecessor, SSX 3. To a certain extent, SSX On Tour is simply more of the stuff that made SSX 3 so great, but in this case more of the same isn't a bad thing.

If you have friends round and they aren’t scared of a little jumping around then this is definitely a game you want to get. If there’s alcohol involved, all the better!

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.

For fans of the Mega Man legacy, this is an absolute must-buy.

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).

Finally Eidos has given the series the attention it deserves and the fans the experience they’ve been craving, minus the nudity (you can’t have everything).

X-Men Legends II is a gem for comic book fans, or fans of a good action RPG. The game offers a very balanced proportion of depth, control, and action.

For the most part, the simple 2D art design works extremely well in generating the game’s overall appeal; it just could have used slightly more definition in terms of upgrading structures and deploying more powerful units.

A fine RPG with many positive qualities, but it could've been a much better game. Despite the bugs, stability issues and at times clumsy game play, Bloodlines' World of Darkness is one of intriguing plot and atmospheric intensity that you'll enjoy being sucked into.

The platform experience is wonderfully balanced and the game's pace is spot on.

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

For RPG fans craving a more Zelda-like adventure, Oath in Felghana is a really good bet. Just don't be a hero and shoot for Nightmare mode on your first play-through. Save your sanity and start with normal.

For 800 MS Points ($10), you are going to get yourself a decent old-school shooter with a new coat of paint shooter. If you are a fan of the series, or a youngun looking for a history lesson, at least check out the demo version.

Like Marathon (XBLA), you should try out the free demo before you make a full purchase just to see if your stomach can handle the rotation effects.

Yourself!Fitness is definitely treading uncharted territory as a fitness game that primarily targets a female audience. responDesign's goal is to develop "Games that are good for you" and they've succeeded here. Those gamers yearning for something different and who are not afraid of breaking a sweat should grab Yourself!Fitness and get physical.

A solid space faring RPG with mind blowing graphics and addictive storyline. The game also spans two DVDs so keep your calendar open for a while.

Metal Gear Ac!d 2 is a not only a sequel that is better than its predecessor, it is also one of the better games on the PSP.

The game play may very well what saves Empire Earth 2 from being a mediocre title. The added “little things” give it a different feel than other games in an already highly populated genre.

Strikingly original.

Bookworm is exactly what it says that it is, a game where a worm goes around beating up creatures using only the power of his words. If that sounds like a good time, and have fun with the daily word jumble, Bookworm Adventures is probably the right game for you.

If you are looking for an RTS that doesn’t get too in-depth, or if you are just looking for a cool new Star Wars game, look no further than Star Wars: Empire at War.

It completely changes the way an entire genre is played.

It's true that Sonic Colors is an imperfect game, plagued by dull boss battles and uneven difficulty, but it's still an enjoyable DS title with enough similarities to 16-bit Sonic games to keep both old and new fans of the franchise entertained.

Taking one part "Bionic Commando," one part "Starship Troopers," and one part action, Lost Planet results in an entertaining game.

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

With simple graphics and musical soundtrack, Rush’s $6 price point is justified. The controls are quite solid too, but being able to zoom in and out could have been nice but isn’t totally necessary.

Smuggler's Run is a solid addition to any action or racing fanatic's collection.

Its clear that the franchise is on its way from breaking out from the shadow of its older, more popular sibling, Madden.

Super hero games have a particularly bad reputation among most gamers. For every rare decent licensed game there are always a slew along the lines of the abysmal Aquaman Now that I’ve succeeded in sending shivers down your spine, I am pleased to announce that X-Men Legends most definitely does not suck.

People who have been playing the series since the early versions may want to skip this skip this edition for a less expensive one later on as well, or just wait for the game to be discounted somewhere.

FF1 & 2 had potential with its classical turn-based fighting, but Square-Enix just left it a mediocre "enhanced" port.

While it isn’t a perfect game it does manage to come rather close to that mark. If you have a PC that is able to run Tropico there is no reason not to run out and buy the game. It is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.

An amazing purchase. From the spot on comic humor, to the amazing voice acting, everything adds up to a worthy investment.

It’s accessible to players of all skill levels, and Hyper Street Fighter Alpha adds something that even veterans who own the SNES and PS1 classics will want to check out.

It throws clunky mechanics to the side and opts for something more fluid, which is definitely worth the purchase if you don't expect a revolutionary storyline or funky-fresh graphics.

When compared to other open world sand box titles, Prototype leaves an unfortunate bland taste in your mouth.

Despite the problems, Dead Rising 2 is a fun and satisfying package overall.

It would have been nice to have an indicator on screen somewhere to let you know how good or bad you're doing; or if you even accomplished the goal of the match while it is in progress.

Devil Summoner 2 might not have as many redeeming qualities as some of the later Persona titles, and it might not even tie the two chunks of the game together as well as those titles do either, but that doesn’t mean that the entire game isn’t a solid investment from the moment that it starts.

It would have made more sense to the fans if Capcom had chosen to include full, and separate versions of all the games whose elements are included here, and the absence of the original Street Fighter, or any of the Alpha series are sore omissions.

While fans have probably already paid for the entire season long before this episode came out, people who are newer to the series can easily find something to hold their attention but may want to wait a little long for the series to congeal together in both difficulty and, hopefully, an overarching plot.

I have to award Telltale Games a high curve score here because of their good level design, the extremely good voice casting, and the hilarious situations and the equally funny dialog that goes a very long way into making the game such an extremely funny game.

Some of the puzzles do take some thought and occasionally some wild guesswork to complete, but apart from one or two tough spots the game is a must buy for anyone who likes point and click adventure games.

Sam and Max continue to deliver humorous adventures on a monthly basis. While this is probably one of the more difficult games that they have released recently it is also one of the most fulfilling in terms of story.

In the end, you must head the advice which our dear bounty hunter has taken to heart, literally: BE THE BALL.

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.

Like so few games before, it King Arthur - The RPG has managed to make many an early morning "quick game" turn into a late night session of "just one more turn".

It has a great imagination, even if it hasn’t been executed to perfection.

OutRun fan boys rejoice—everyone else proceed with caution.

Sadly, Metal Slug Advance is the worst game in the franchise with the stupid health bar, insane difficulty, shoddy frame rate, unknown playable characters, lack of a co-op link mode, and merciless respawning enemies.

For any fan of RPG’s, espically fans of Japanese RPGs, Tales is a must have.

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.

Successful play requires a new level of proficiency outside of that set in the campaign mode, giving players much more replay value after finishing the brief single-player experience.

Newcomers to the series will be instantly drawn to the simple and exciting gameplay that is a staple of Mega Man, while the new features make it a worthwhile rent for veteran fans.

I believe this game could have been made with better graphics, more innovative controls and some real customization for your skate park.

For 800 MS Points ($10), RooGoo is going to give you a new way to enjoy your puzzle games.

Do not let the cartoon-like presentation fool you; Alien Hominid will be unforgiving and merciless to the unassuming gamer. The level of challenge present will either have you throwing controllers in disgust or frothing at the mouth for more.

Resurrection of Evil really is, despite its disappointments, a “must have” title for any Doom III fan.

Ultimately, the game holds only a moderate amount of appeal for those outside the series' existing fans. The game is fairly unique, in its focus on story and interaction over combat. However, at its core Yakuza 4 stands alongside Grand Theft Auto, Mafia II and Red Dead Redemption. It's a game where you can do bad things and watch a story unfold in a unique game world. If what I've described sounds great…then you'll enjoy Yakuza 4. If not…check out any of the other games I've mentioned.

Even though this game was made a couple of years ago, platform fans will appreciate the simplistic but thoughtful level design.

This title is definitely a sleeper hit.

If you’re the kind of person who ranks plot as one of the most important features in a game, Hotel Dusk is worth the 15 hours it takes to beat, and another few hours to watch the story over again (and possibly unlock one of the multiple endings). However, if you’re looking for a game to bend you brain over with difficult puzzles and a thrilling exploration experience, you’d be better off with "Shadowgate."

The central narrative holds up for the most part, the squad-based elements are terrific, and the suspense won’t let you down.

Overall then, despite its simplistic gameplay (and ill balanced multiplayer), Conker: Live and Reloaded is a game that can easily win a gamer over with its bawdy humor and lovingly crafted design.

Apollo Justice, while staying true to an original, winning formula, has some pitfalls that prevents me from recommending it to people not familiar with the series.

Offering vibrant environments, adorable characters, and genuinely clever puzzles governing every facet of level design, there's not much to dislike about The Adventures of Cookie & Cream.