Hot Wheels: Beat That! would have made a solid gift for a 6-8 year old kid looking for a new racing game if the game was valued-priced. At full retail price, though, it’s near impossible to recommend the game for purchase. It’s not that anything is inherently broken but it is incredibly uninspired.

World Series of Poker 2008 is a great poker game. The AI is aggressive without obviously cheating and the underlying gameplay mechanics are solid.

Sony’s NBA 08 is a solid basketball gamebut the actual gameplay isn’t as tight as its competitors. The lack of a franchise mode hurts the game and while The Life is still plenty of fun to play through, it may not be enough to pull the game up for most people.

Hot Wheels: Beat That! would have made a solid gift for a 6-8 year old kid looking for a new racing game if the game was valued-priced. At full retail price, though, it’s near impossible to recommend the game for purchase. It’s not that anything is inherently broken but it is incredibly uninspired.

It’s the Halo sequel that fans have been demanding. And it’s the game that’s going to sell a lot of Xbox 360s.

World Series of Poker 2008 is a great poker game. The AI is aggressive without obviously cheating and the underlying gameplay mechanics are solid.

World Series of Poker 2008 is a great poker game. The AI is aggressive without obviously cheating and the underlying gameplay mechanics are solid.

Hot Wheels: Beat That! would have made a solid gift for a 6-8 year old kid looking for a new racing game if the game was valued-priced. At full retail price, though, it’s near impossible to recommend the game for purchase. It’s not that anything is inherently broken but it is incredibly uninspired.

MySims, with its focus on finding Essence, building furniture (and friendships) and decorating homes ends up feeling more like Animal Crossing than a true Sims game. With that said, MySims is an incredibly charming game that will please more than a few fans looking for lighthearted fare.

MySims on Nintendo DS focuses on odd jobs and building relationships with the various townspeople. The game isn’t the most complex game out there and the lack of actual things to do ends up hurting its replay value. The kiddies will like it, as will hardcore fans of the Animal Crossing games.

Skate’s intuitive control scheme won’t be for everyone but those that give it a shot will experience some of the most fulfilling gaming moments of any sports game.

Heavenly Sword is one of the best PS3 games to date.

NHL 08 manages to improve on last year’s already great hockey game. If you were a fan of last year’s effort, NHL 08 won’t disappoint.

NHL 08 manages to improve on last year’s already great hockey game. If you were a fan of last year’s effort, NHL 08 won’t disappoint.

NHL 08 manages to improve on last year’s already great hockey game. If you were a fan of last year’s effort, NHL 08 won’t disappoint.

Medal of Honor Airborne delivers the most compelling MOH experience in recent years. If you’re looking for a fun, chaotic WWII game this Holiday season, Medal of Honor Airbone is a great choice.

Medal of Honor Airborne delivers the most compelling MOH experience in recent years. If you’re looking for a fun, chaotic WWII game this Holiday season, Medal of Honor Airbone is a great choice.

Lair is a tough game to rate. One on hand, the game is absolutely gorgeous and easily justifies the thousands of dollars spent on the latest home theater equipment. On the other hand, the gameplay is so fundamentally broken that it’s difficult to imagine anyone sticking with Lair through its ending.

Warhawk provides one of the most compelling online experiences on the PlayStation 3. The visceral, fast-paced and often chaotic action fits the game perfectly.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 is the best Tiger Woods yet but really feels like an incremental upgrade over last year’s game.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 is the best Tiger Woods yet but really feels like an incremental upgrade over last year’s game.

It’s certainly the best golf game on Wii, but whether the upgrades are worth $50 if you own Tiger 07 will depend on how much you like the series.

Nonetheless, value proposition questions aside, it’s hard to ignore that this is one the best-looking and most fun games on the PlayStation 3.

It won’t convert Madden non-believers, but everyone else take note: the best next-generation Madden has arrived.

It won’t convert Madden non-believers, but everyone else take note: the best next-generation Madden has arrived.

EA has created a great world and a solid launching pad for the franchise, but ultimately the dance portion—which is heavily emphasized—is far too easy even if people get really into it.

The game is definitely a just enough to tide you over until Guitar Hero III ships, but for millions of fans, that’s quite enough.

NCAA 08 is more fleshed-out than its predecessor and by being so improves on the key complaint against that game.