Hard Lock relies on these barely interactive sequences to the point of absurdity.

It's a solid package, but we have some gripes: ship movement often feels slightly oversensitive, and it's sometimes difficult to tell why you took damage, especially if the environment isn't clear on what is and isn't a hazard. Dropping powerups when you take damage is also incredibly irritating, as you'll likely take more hits struggling to retrieve them.

Some diehard Resident Evil fans may be disappointed by Raccoon City for sapping the survival-horror soul out of the series. But the game's satisfying blend of gunplay and teamwork, coupled with its cool references to past Resident Evil games, make revisiting the perilous streets of Raccoon City worth the trip. Even with its failings, Raccoon City keeps the action rolling along; just make sure you bring some buddies to help you slaughter all the undead.

Shoot Many Robots seemed like a sure thing, and its extensive and amusingly described weapon and gear options - which directly affect stats - are a standout feature; really, they're the only one that feels fully developed here. Nearly everything else around it is as unremarkable as a pile of bolts.

While executing attacks is refreshingly easy, Generations lacks depth: bouts often devolve into who can escape and button-mash to counter first. Likewise, fighting the CPU - especially in Story Mode's later stages - can feel frustrating and unfair. Meanwhile, the online-versus options are bare-bones, with the only frill being a replay-recording feature.

As Mass Effect DLC goes, From Ashes isn't as spectacular or impactful as ME2's Lair of the Shadow Broker; it's more a carbon copy of Kasumi - Stolen Memory, the companion DLC for ME2's thief character, Kasumi Goto.

At times, the game's many puzzles and open-world areas did leave us aimlessly wondering and wandering. But varied gameplay, solid combat, and an effective mix of psychological scares and freaky encounters make Downpour a worthwhile trip to Silent Hill's haunted 'hood.

It's an intriguing new piece of the puzzle, to be sure. But the two-hour Lost Archive quest doesn't go quite far enough in pushing forward the overall series storyline, making it less essential for those who care more about Assassin's' open-world adventuring than the lore behind it.

It's a welcome alternative for veterans, but even folks relatively unfamiliar with soccer will find a lot to love here.

For apocalypse buffs, much of I Am Alive is riveting stuff; we'd love to see a follow-up that improves on its framework.

From the visceral combat to the excitement of finishing Shepard's 100-hour fight, Mass Effect 3 is a rare, magnetically engaging treat that'll compel you to stay up well past your bedtime to do "just one more quest." Safe travels, fellow Shepards. See you starside.

A full, unique experience that's equal parts familiar and new, technical and mashy.

Whether you're seeking a simple, entertaining, and supremely effective method of getting in shape (no dumbbells or reps required), or just an extremely satisfactory substitute for your local Zumba class (even if you choose to play alone to avoid accidentally beating up your multiplayer buddy), you'll definitely want to pick up this game.

Though it may appeal to fighting-game greenhorns learning the ropes, Phantom Breaker is far too simplistic and bare-bones to justify its $40 price. [Apr 2012, p.85]

The series' best effort yet. Though many little issues remain, its fundamentals are strong throughout, forming the foundation for a largely stellar baseball experience. [Apr 2012, p.84]

Nexuiz can't hold a candle to full-priced war games, but its mix of constant speed and occasional silliness make it just the thing for when you've got only 10 minutes to kill. [Apr 2012, p.80]

Silent Hill HD Collection is hardly well-rounded, but its tense manipulation of mood still rattles all the right nerves. [Apr 2012, p.62]

It may not live up to the series' impossibly high standards, but it's still a gem in its own right. [Apr 2012, p.56]

Mind-bogglingly inconsistent difficulty. [Apr 2012, p.74]

Gangstas is a grand time reminiscent of the main game. It's not a must-play, but it is a good way to keep the Saints Row fun going.

Though sometimes repetitive, combat is tense, frantic, and structured in such a way that a big new boss or new challenge is always around the corner.

Impressive lighting, gorgeous art direction, and a smooth framerate really pretty-up the experience, while voice-acting from Hollywood veterans Rosario Dawson and Brian Cox add weight to the audio.

Fans seeking deep, involving combat shouldn't put down their copies of Kingdoms of Amalur or Mass Effect for Asura's Wrath: it's a game chock full of style but little substance. Nevertheless, we can't deny that Asura's made us jump, scream, and pump our fist in the air just as often as the game's crazy warrior hero, even if it was a byproduct of not having to press any buttons for dozens of minutes at a time.

Without multiplayer or varied play modes, Rhythm Party can be conquered in a snap. But it's an entertaining and solidly priced treat for Kinect dance fans who need a fresh distraction.

Warp's upgrade system isn't explained or implemented well: you're never reminded to use your currency at the innocuous upgrade stations, and we still don't know how we earn skill points. Plus, physics become a greater enemy than the puzzles in the final stage, resulting in a lot of frustration near the end.

Irreverent yet addictively engaging, Gotham City Impostors may not be the shooter you expected, but it's definitely the one you deserve.

By far the most commendable feature is the massive influx of new fighters and divisions within UFC 3. The Featherweight and Bantamweight classes (imported from UFC's recently absorbed sister company, WEC) add faster and more agile fighters to the Undisputed roster, but the bigger addition comes by way of Pride FC, the former Japan-based MMA promotion purchased by the UFC in 2007.

Quite simply, there's little reason to choose this game over the far superior Top Spin 4.