Need for Speed: Shift is a compelling racing game that does an admirable job of balancing its simulation side with its arcade side. The combination of fun events, varied tracks and a solid racing engine make quite a convincing package.

NHL 10 is an excellent hockey game. It’s probably the best one yet.

NHL 10 is an excellent hockey game. It’s probably the best one yet.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 is certainly the most refined game in its series (including its prequel and the X-Men Legends game before it).

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 is certainly the most refined game in its series (including its prequel and the X-Men Legends game before it).

The Beatles: Rock Band does one thing extremely well: it brings The Beatles’ music to a very strong platform (the Rock Band platform) resulting in a game that is undeniably fun to play.

The Beatles: Rock Band does one thing extremely well: it brings The Beatles’ music to a very strong platform (the Rock Band platform) resulting in a game that is undeniably fun to play.

Guitar Hero 5 is the ultimate party game. The solid, addicting Guitar Hero gameplay has been made even more accessible and compelling with all of the new additions Neversoft has added for this version.

Guitar Hero 5 is the ultimate party game. The solid, addicting Guitar Hero gameplay has been made even more accessible and compelling with all of the new additions Neversoft has added for this version.

Guitar Hero 5 is the ultimate party game. The solid, addicting Guitar Hero gameplay has been made even more accessible and compelling with all of the new additions Neversoft has added for this version.

Batman: Arkham Asylum would be a terrific third-person action game on its own thanks to the excellent combat engine and well-designed levels. But coupled with the Batman license the game becomes a must-play.

Batman: Arkham Asylum would be a terrific third-person action game on its own thanks to the excellent combat engine and well-designed levels. But coupled with the Batman license the game becomes a must-play.

Even though Nintendo didn’t hit 12/12 I’d say that four of the games (Swordplay, Archery, Table Tennis and Power Cruising) are amazing, must-play experiences, another four (Basketball, Canoeing, Air Sports and Wake Boarding) are fantastic, and the rest (excluding Cycling) are worth a few play throughs. The only negative aspect about the game is that unless you pick up Tiger Woods 2010 you’re looking at the $70 purchase to pick up Wii Sports Resort (which includes a Wii MotionPlus peripheral) and an additional WMP unit.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is very sharp, lighthearted and fun game that will please younger fans of the movie with its varied gameplay, good looks and clever writing. A recommended purchase for fans of the movie.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is very sharp, lighthearted and fun game that will please younger fans of the movie with its varied gameplay, good looks and clever writing. A recommended purchase for fans of the movie.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is very sharp, lighthearted and fun game that will please younger fans of the movie with its varied gameplay, good looks and clever writing. A recommended purchase for fans of the movie.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is very sharp, lighthearted and fun game that will please younger fans of the movie with its varied gameplay, good looks and clever writing. A recommended purchase for fans of the movie.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is very sharp, lighthearted and fun game that will please younger fans of the movie with its varied gameplay, good looks and clever writing. A recommended purchase for fans of the movie.

Like the movie it’s based on, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen isn’t trying to radically change the genre or introduce innovative new features. It’s giving you great-looking robots that go off and fight other great-looking robots as you watch the resulting explosions.

Like the movie it’s based on, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen isn’t trying to radically change the genre or introduce innovative new features. It’s giving you great-looking robots that go off and fight other great-looking robots as you watch the resulting explosions.

Guitar Hero: Smash Hits is an incredibly fun game and one that will definitely keep you entertained until Guitar Hero V arrives.

Guitar Hero: Smash Hits is an incredibly fun game and one that will definitely keep you entertained until Guitar Hero V arrives.

Guitar Hero: Smash Hits is an incredibly fun game and one that will definitely keep you entertained until Guitar Hero V arrives.

The insane amount of strength, skills and powers you get in the game is amazing and the game does a great job of making you feel like you’re really in control of a truly powerful being.

The insane amount of strength, skills and powers you get in the game is amazing and the game does a great job of making you feel like you’re really in control of a truly powerful being.

The insane amount of strength, skills and powers you get in the game is amazing and the game does a great job of making you feel like you’re really in control of a truly powerful being.

Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades is a great expansion of the series on the DS.

It’s the best tennis game on any console.

Red Faction: Guerrilla has some flaws including largely forgettable characters, game world and story. But it does one thing extremely well: it allows you blow up a lot of stuff in a number of different and satisfying ways.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a superb action game especially for fans of the character. This is the Wolverine game that fans have been waiting for. It’s not incredibly varied and a lesser game would have suffered because of this but Wolverine is just incredibly fun.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a superb action game especially for fans of the character. This is the Wolverine game that fans have been waiting for. It’s not incredibly varied and a lesser game would have suffered because of this but Wolverine is just incredibly fun.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a superb action game especially for fans of the character. This is the Wolverine game that fans have been waiting for. It’s not incredibly varied and a lesser game would have suffered because of this but Wolverine is just incredibly fun.

Conceptually, The Godfather II has the potential to be an amazing game. However, the somewhat dated visuals, coupled with the occasional mission-ending glitches, and the relatively ease of the strategy component mean that The Godfather II is a good game but one that doesn’t fully live up to its potential.

With Guitar Hero: Metallica, it looks like Neversoft was able to balance the interests of fans of the band and fans of the franchise.

With Guitar Hero: Metallica, it looks like Neversoft was able to balance the interests of fans of the band and fans of the franchise.

With Guitar Hero: Metallica, it looks like Neversoft was able to balance the interests of fans of the band and fans of the franchise.

Overall, Monsters vs. Aliens is a solid videogame adaptation from the movie. The combination of standard action-platforming, more traditional puzzle-based platforming and on-rails races that you’ll experience with the different characters provides just enough variety and challenge for the game’s target market. If your child is a fan of the movie, you’ll want to pick up the game.

Overall, Monsters vs. Aliens is a solid videogame adaptation from the movie. The combination of standard action-platforming, more traditional puzzle-based platforming and on-rails races that you’ll experience with the different characters provides just enough variety and challenge for the game’s target market. If your child is a fan of the movie, you’ll want to pick up the game.

Overall, Monsters vs. Aliens is a solid videogame adaptation from the movie. The combination of standard action-platforming, more traditional puzzle-based platforming and on-rails races that you’ll experience with the different characters provides just enough variety and challenge for the game’s target market. If your child is a fan of the movie, you’ll want to pick up the game.

Overall, Monsters vs. Aliens is a solid videogame adaptation from the movie. Compared to the console versions, the Nintendo DS version is a bit more monotonous since most of the levels are sidescrolling levels of some variety. There are certainly better sidescrollers on the DS, but young gamers who are fans of the movie will enjoy pitting their monsters against aliens in this uncomplicated game.

Overall, Monsters vs. Aliens is a solid videogame adaptation from the movie. The combination of standard action-platforming, more traditional puzzle-based platforming and on-rails races that you’ll experience with the different characters provides just enough variety and challenge for the game’s target market. If your child is a fan of the movie, you’ll want to pick up the game.

Sony Bend was able to bring Resistance to the PSP in a way that takes advantage of the system’s strengths and feels like it’s own game in the Resistance universe instead of a dumbed down version of the console versions.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is an incredibly impressive game and probably the most technically impressive game on the Nintendo DS.

Killzone 2 is an exceptional first-person shooter.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand is a fairly typical third-person shooter at its core.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand is a fairly typical third-person shooter at its core.

Overall, The Lost and Damned is a terrific addition to Grand Theft Auto IV.

Despite its flaws, Afro Samurai is a well done hack-and-slash adventure.

Despite its flaws, Afro Samurai is a well done hack-and-slash adventure.

Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades is a great expansion of the series on the DS.

Mirror’s Edge isn’t for everyone. The game has a lot of trial and error, which will undoubtedly turn off some gamers who simply don’t want to go through the same level for another shot.

With Call of Duty: World at War Treyarch successfully did two things: they made World War II shooters relevant again and brilliantly followed up one of the best games of this generation.

Overall, with Call of Duty: World at War, Treyarch successfully did two things: they made World War II shooters relevant again and brilliantly followed up one of the best games of this generation. On the Wii, they also successfully modified a very technically demanding engine to less powerful hardware.

Overall, Call of Duty: World at War is a great DS shooter.

Gears of War 2 is a stellar shooting game and easily one of the best games of the year.

Overall, Kung Fu Panda: Legendary Warriors is quite fun to play, especially for fans of the movie or the first game.

Overall, Kung Fu Panda: Legendary Warriors is quite fun to play, especially for fans of the movie or the first game.

SingStar Legends doesn’t include any of those features but as a multiplayer game it’s recommended as long as you like the songs.

With Quantum of Solace, Treyarch absolutely nailed the James Bond experience.

With Quantum of Solace, Treyarch absolutely nailed the James Bond experience.

With Quantum of Solace, Beenox had the tough task of porting over one of the most technically demanding engines over to the less powerful Wii. The result is a game that shines at its core thanks to an impressive Bond feel but is held back by technical issues.

With Quantum of Solace, Treyarch absolutely nailed the James Bond experience.

Overall, Quantum of Solace is sure to please fans of the movie, series, or those looking for a solid action game on the Nintendo DS.

Resistance 2 is a fantastic game. It’s one of the best shooters available on the PlayStation 3 and one of the console’s strongest exclusives.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a fun platformer, definitely aimed at younger gamers and fans of the series.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a fun platformer, definitely aimed at younger gamers and fans of the series.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a fun platformer, definitely aimed at younger gamers and fans of the series.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a fun platformer, definitely aimed at younger gamers and fans of the series.

Overall, SingStar Vol. 2 is a tremendous improvement over its PS3 predecessors thanks to My SingStar Online and the SingStore.

SingStar Country doesn’t include any of those features but as a multiplayer game it’s recommended as long as you like the songs.

LittleBigPlanet is one of those games that seemingly comes out of nowhere and redefines what you think is possible in a videogame.

Ultimately, all of Guitar Hero World Tour’s components come together extremely well.

Ultimately, all of Guitar Hero World Tour’s components come together extremely well.

Ultimately, all of Guitar Hero World Tour’s components come together extremely well.

Ultimately, The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon is a well put-together platformer, especially for younger gamers.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows plays like an enhanced version of Spider-Man 3 with a pretty cool story backing it up.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows plays like an enhanced version of Spider-Man 3 with a pretty cool story backing it up.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows plays like an enhanced version of Spider-Man 3 with a pretty cool story backing it up.

Ultimately, Transformers Animated: The Game works by delivering classic platforming gameplay and getting the feel of the series down.

Overall, Midnight Club Los Angeles is a superb racing game.

Overall, Midnight Club Los Angeles is a superb racing game.

Ultimately, Rock Band 2 is a fantastic title and one that is highly recommended.

Arguably, it doesn’t do as much to propel the genre forward (in terms of story-telling, etc) as some of its peers. But the game is also wickedly fun. In terms of pure, unadulterated fun, Saints Row 2 is in a league of its own.

Let’s be clear: Saints Row 2 isn’t a genre-changing experience. But the game is also wickedly fun.

Dead Space shows the beginnings of a very strong franchise.

Dead Space shows the beginnings of a very strong franchise. EA Redwood Shores nailed the genre with Dead Space.

FIFA Soccer 09 is an extremely polished soccer title with great gameplay and presentation. The gameplay is a lot tighter than it was in previous years thanks to the new physics system and animation while still remaining fun to play.

As it stands, the game is still a lot of fun but largely unchanged from last year’s version. As such, it’s only really commended if you skipped 08 or are a diehard soccer fan (and don’t have access to current-generation platforms).

Overall, FIFA Soccer 09 on PSP is a solid addition to the FIFA Soccer series. Definitely recommended if you’re looking for soccer gaming on the go.

Crash: Mind Over Mutant is a surprisingly well put-together platforming title.

Crash: Mind Over Mutant is a surprisingly well put-together platforming title.

Crash: Mind Over Mutant is a surprisingly well put-together platforming title.

The game builds on the solid fundamentals of NBA Live 08, while making the game play more like an NBA broadcast.

The game builds on the solid fundamentals of NBA Live 08, while making the game play more like an NBA broadcast.

As its core, NBA 09: The Inside is a solid basketball game.

NBA 09: The Inside is a great portable basketball title.

Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway is an intense and powerful shooter.

Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway is an intense and powerful shooter.