Combat is sometimes a little too loose, but the atmosphere, sense of realism, and highly creative game design makes this FPS highly enjoyable and quite the pleasant surprise.

The ending may not be the most satisfying conclusion to a trilogy, but the journey there is pure action-adventure bliss.

I couldn’t recommend this game to a lot of people though, as it is more of a movie then a game. It’s niche and like I said, I can’t blame anyone for passing it up on store shelves.

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.

For those that are really into the genre it is a no brainer, for anyone who has enjoyed a tower defense game before it is still a solid investment.

Regardless, Pokemon SoulSilver is a quality game if you take it on its own merits, and it’s a safe pickup if you’re looking for either a casual play-through, or want to go the competitive battling route.

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.

If you enjoyed Kirby's Canvas Curse or are looking for the next puzzling platformer, this could be a good way to spend 1000 Nintendo Points.

It isn’t very exciting, which may be disappointing for people who expect the game to have any sort of attitude or personality beyond its atrocious music, but it works decently and has a great deal of unadvertised potential as a relaxation aide for stressed out people that have a fondness for ATV racing.

The only issue is that the intricate tech tree system sets a pretty steep learning curve for the game that can scare off lots of young, inexperienced players. Because of that, it’s hard to recommend this to people just looking to dive into the RTS genre, but it may be worth looking at for all you Starcraft and Command & Conquer veterans.

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.

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.

Even though Metal Slug has not evolved, it is a still a fun game, but game design changes would definitely be welcomed in the inevitable Metal Slug 8.

Adventure games are not inherently boring, and neither are murder mysteries, but all of the pointless procedure that this game throws at you will, at least as you play it, make you forget all of the enjoyment that you ever got out of either of those things.

While Tropico 3 on the Xbox 360 is enjoyable, there’s no reason to get it on the console if you have a PC capable of running it. The game is still an entertaining experience, but the controls are plain-and-simple better on the mouse and keyboard.

To be frank, even if I hadn’t played this game as a kid, I would have bought it; my man crush on XSeed is enough for me, but I can’t recommend this game for anyone who hasn’t played the MMO beforehand.

The game is a safe pickup for FPS fans, and something worth looking at for anybody wanting a unique adventure…assuming you played the original.

Tomena Sanner on WiiWare is a perfect platform for this user friendly/cheap thrills style of quirky gameplay.

Being a fan of the original NES Blaster Master, I really wanted to like this new sequel but the game's many crater-sized flaws hold it back from being a great follow up.

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

The slower pacing of Bermuda Triangle should be most welcomed to amateur puzzle gamers and younger children.

While Mass Effect 1 was a good game, this sequel really just improves everything. With a wide range of gameplay tweaks and some slight nudges to the presentation, the game ends up really reaching its full potential.

Flames of Judgment is a worthy sequel to carry the Vandal Hearts name but this latest installment fails to retain the flair and excitement of the original.

For fans of aerial combat games or the anime on which The Sky Crawlers was based, however, the game offers an excess of value, with an Achievements-esque medal system, multiple difficulty levels, and dozens of things to unlock.

While this is still mostly a game for the younger crowd, that’s not to say us grown-up gamers can’t enjoy it. It’s a solid action platformer that you can play without cringing.

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.

While the concept of the game seems to be sound, a Geometry Wars inspired co-op shooter; everything seems to work against it, especially the price.

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.