You're better off slamming something in a car door....and that's free. [Holiday 2009, p.80]

Ion Assault occasionally feels insubstantial and rarely replicates the big, tense moments of other thrill-a-second shooters, but it works well as a slightly more strategic alternative. [Nov 2009, p.72]

Four-player co-op is crazy amounts of fun. [Dec 2009, p.83]

This Halo manages to earn its own keep while learning from its predecessors’ mistakes and balancing fan expectations. It’s no small feat, particularly with that Master Chief guy nowhere in sight.

Simple tournaments and multiplayer combine for classic pinball action. [Nov 2009, p.78]

A pleasant, solidly entertaining, and kid-friendly option. [Dec 2009, p.77]

Because the co-op mode adapts the same structure for its 100 new levels, rather than implementing new ideas, this redux feels pretty out of touch. [Oct 2009, p.73]

But for $10, the price is alright for this fresh slice of strategic goodness. [Holiday 2009, p.81]

A super-accessible, stylish, over-the-top slaughterfest. [Dec 2009, p.80]

Shift is hugely entertaining, but remember that it’s not about the sillier fun of its Need for Speed predecessors. It’s about the nail-biting intensity and challenge of hanging on to your car at high speed, and as long as that’s how you like your racing, you’ll disappear into this game.

For the hardcore hockey lovers who expect the significant improvements each year, NHL 10 is pure bliss. Everything you loved before is either back in full force or improved enough to warrant playing again. The core experience was already electric, but the enhanced realism, new player abilities, and gratifying sense of progression have us skating on smooth ice.

Shallow and dull, but it's also inoffensive and marginally enjoyable. [Oct 2009, p.73]

This arcade hockey is a reasonably fun alternative to aggressive realism, but it lacks the substance that’ll keep us playing its competition long after both games launch and hockey season has come and gone.

Lots of wise gameplay enhancements. [Dec 2009, p.65]

Gun-crazed gamers just looking for another run-and-shoot romp will find the plodding pace and home-spun presentation distasteful, but Darkest of Days offers everyone else enough fresh and rewarding gameplay to offset its worst problems.

A decent hunting adventure. [Dec 2009, p.77]

A strong example of challenging, polished 16-bit platform gameplay. [Oct 2009, p.80]

While IL-2 doesn't quite manage to be the awesomest air combat game of all time, it comes temptingly close. [Oct 2009, p.68]

Probably the core of what makes this game such a blast is the handling. It’s not as scientific and demanding as Forza’s, nor is it as slap-happy loose as Need for Speeds of old, but it hits a nice sweet spot between real and fun.

Raiden IV could’ve been a genre godsend for a devoted fanbase; instead, it proves merely adequate.

One of the finest examples of the burgeoning tower-defense genre on Xbox 360. [Nov 2009, p.70]

Even without a huge diversity of modes, there are worse ways to spend $10. [Dec 2009, p.81]

Section 8 also offers a lot of customization options, with players able to tweak their weapon loadouts, tools (like healing abilities and various flavors of explosive), and even a whole slew of buffs and perks called “passive modules.” Best of all, racking up kills nets you points that you can use to buy deployable gun turrets, hard-to-drive tanks, or hulking mech suits.

If you’re into party gaming with tons of tunes and opulent options, this is the Guitar Hero to own — easily the best since Guitar Hero II, and the most flexible and friendly interactive jukebox the genre has ever seen. All the elements really came together in GH5; this is musical fun done right.

Maddening difficulty spikes. [Nov 2009, p.84]

Over in just two to three hours. [Nov 2009, p.78]

Your $5 will be better spent elsewhere. [Dec 2009, p.78]

Impeccable presentation from top to bottom. [Nov 2009, p.82]