Sackboy's latest won't dethrone any kart-racing kings, but it's adorable style, plentiful content, and accessible creation tools make it a worthy competitor to the cup. [Holiday 2012, p.84]

Accessibility is the game's strongest sell, however, and everyone from drunk uncles to tween cousins will find a song they enjoy. [Holiday 2012, p.85]

That said, 40 bucks is pretty steep for what's basically an arcade action game. To a certain breed of driver, though, the stress relief might be worth it. [Holiday 2012, p.85]

The frenetic action and controls really capture the essence of the anime, and even is DBZ isn't as spry as it used to be, this is a nice reminder of its heyday. [Holiday 2012, p.85]

But there's no denying that the highlight is the Attitude Era mode, and though it has its flaws, it's a dream come true for children of the '90s. ]Holiday 2012, p.83]

Throw in the original two Doom games, some online multiplayer, and a handful of extra content that fans of the original Doom 3 may have missed, and suddenly the $40 price tag seems pretty reasonable...as long as you don't expect too much. [Holiday 2012, p.82]

Despite these flaws, however, Okami is still one of our favorite games and more than worth a meager 20 bucks. [Holiday 2012, p.82]

While Legends has all the gadgets, driving, fisticuffs, and sneaking fans would expect from a Bond game, it's mostly a rote first-person shooter. [Holiday 2012, p.83]

Despite bringing a few fresh nuances to the table, Revolution doesn't exactly live up to its name. [Holiday 2012, p.80]

For a trippy rush of never-give-up candor and liberating loop-de-loops, take a trip back to the Sega Saturn and switch off your brain for a while. [Holiday 2012, p.81]

The only real reason to purchase this port is if the prospect of scouting out a Dreamcast and a copy of the game seems a bit pricey. [Holiday 2012, p.81]

The simple but fun RPG-lite adventure gameplay is still great for parent/child co-play, but we had no problem blowing through the campaign in a single weekend. [Holiday 2012, p.81]

While it's not quite a perfect package, there's a lot to love about the way the open-world craziness unfolds despite the game's oddly self-aware inclusion of some of gaming's more annoying, antiquated mechanics. [Holiday 2012, p.80]

It's an addictive cycle, and every step has its own interesting challenges, RPG and strategy fans shouldn't let this little sleeper pass by. [Holiday 2012, p.81]

Goal-oriented gamers needing a concrete beginning and end will be let down, but if you're easily engrossed with multiplayer and exploration, Most Wanted is certainly a blast. [Holiday 2012, p.78]

Given the smaller screen and weaker controls, there's almost no reason to play this if you've already experienced SFXT. [Holiday 2012, p.79]

Still, this minimal-frills two-pack is definitely entertaining while it lasts. [Holiday 2012, p.76]

While the brainteasers and competition are addicting, there's not enough substance to make Smart As worth the price; it'd be better off as a $15 download. [Holiday 2012, p.76]

One Piece and Dynasty Warrior diehards will find plenty to love; anyone else will be bored after about two missions. [Holiday 2012, p.76]

As dungeon crawls go, it's unique. Just don't expect a Silent Hill 2 level of scary. [Holiday 2012, p.77]

Absolutely enchanting from start-to-finish, Swan is a real treat and a prime example of why bigger isn't always better. [Holiday 2012, p.77]

Building on that solid foundation, its more polished sequel gives armchair athletes another great reason to get off the couch. [Holiday 2012, p.76]

This may be a well-made rat maze, but a rat maze it is and that's all. [Holiday 2012, p.73]

Paradise's bag of tricks is sadly limited, leaving only a violent juvenile romp we're reluctant to recommend. [Holiday 2012, p.73]

The simplistic mechanics don't offer that remarkable of a hook, and the game spans just a couple of hours. As a light snack between big holiday releases, however, it's a pleasantly tasty distraction. [Holiday 2012, p.73[

It's disappointing at first, but after the initial shock, Karateka turns out to be fun and surprisingly addictive. [Holiday 2012, p.73]

Joe Danger 2 might test our patience, but it's still a great little game well worth the download. [Holiday 2012, p.72]

Although last year's NASCAR The Game 2011 was a credible effort, Inside Line is the first NASCAR racing game in years that feels like someone cared. [Holiday 2012, p.72]

It's not the revolution we were hoping for, bit it's easily the best portable Creed fix yet. [Holiday 2012, p.,70]

ACIII certainly has its high points: the addictive multiplayer, refined mechanics, involving characters, and unique setting all help to create a rich, compelling experience that surpasses both Brotherhood and Revelations. [Holiday 2012, p.67

The sheer number of unlockables and challenges adds tons of replayability to a game that already demands multiple playthroughs. [Holiday 2012, p.74]

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a strange footnote in the history of classic fighters, making this HD release a niche game directed at fans of the anime series and nostalgic lovers of offbeat 2D fighting games. [Dec 2012, p.87]

Fortunately, the design is still fun, even if it doesn't quite hold up against modern FPS fare. [Dec 2012, p.86]

Its controls aren't quite as precise as we'd like for a platformer, and the old-school difficulty can be occasionally punishing, but those gripes aside, Hell yeah's a twisted trip worth taking. [Dec 2012, p.86]

As a PSN budget title, Trilogy would soar. At $40, though, it's a bit of a turkey. [Dec 2012, p.87]

The smaller screen makes precision work tricky, but touch controls make it quicker. [Dec 2012, p.84]

All said and done, this is an extremely solid racing experience. [Dec 2012, p.85]

Not based on any particular Sherlock Holmes story, this is a throwback to the point-and-click adventures of old, but with the clue-finding mechanics of L.A. Noire and puzzles that feel like old-school Resident Evil games. [Dec 2012, p.85]

Deep Black stands out in all the wrong ways, and despite its unique aquatic focus, it still manages to be completely forgettable. [Dec 2012, p.83]

Anyone craving a fresh take on the stealth-action genre should sniff this one out. [Dec 2012, p.83]

The gameplay doesn't change much, but the story is more fleshed out on PS3, the levels are longer, and the controls work well. [Dec 2012, p.83]

Newcomers might not understand the appeal(or get the jokes), but gamers who grew up in the '80s will think it's totally rad. [Dec, p.83]

The all-new Control Stick system highlights this year's gameplay improvements, allowing more precise ball handling through the Right-analog stick. [Dec 2012, p.82]

The bargain price(along with the Metal Gear Rising: Revengence demo)might make it more attractive to gamers new to Zone of the Enders, and it's definitely worth it for old fans. [Dec 2012, p.81]

More than Tekken and Virtua Fighter, DOA is light, flashy entertainment. [Dec 2012, p.80]

A relentlessly addictive, almost endlessly replayable experience. [Dec 2012, p.78]

First-person hand-to-hand combat feels a bit awkward, and the lack of boss battles means this method also feels a bit repetitive - especially if you're not the inventive type. [Dec 2012, p.75]

A solid take on action-focused WWII air combat. [Nov 2012, p.87]

Quests do occasionally offer intriguing objectives, but they're a rarity, and simple kill/fetch structures are the norm. [Nov 2012, p.87]

Even for first-timers who aren't craving a nostalgia fix, this one's an easy recommendation. [Nov 2012, p.86]

When a series' 13th installment leaves us amazed with its highlight moments and has us playing all-nighters again, it's an easy pick-up-call. [Nov 2012, p.86]

It's not entirely free from the monotonous grind that's so common to the genre, but the more repetitious moments are balanced by bursts of fun personality and outrageous antics that keep up the zippy pace. [Nov 2012, p.85]

The infectious beats of DJ Professor K washed all our frustrations away in no time. [Nov 2012, p.85]

In a vacuum, Madden NFL 13 is great. That's good enough for some of us, but others will lament what it could have been. [Nov 2012, p.83]

This is the football game we've wanted since the PS3 era began. [Nov 2012, p.83]

Fresh, funky, and super fun. [Nov 2012, p.82]

It's not innovative or wildly creative, but the gameplay is fun and the multiplayer is excellent. [Nov 2012, p.80]

The fighting doesn't feel significantly changed or enhanced. [Nov 2012, p.78]

It's particularly satisfying on Vita, where the back panel is used to move and adjust pieces, but Sound Shapes otherwise plays identically across platforms. [Nov 2012, p.84]

The action's effective and fluid, and the animation is at times as beautiful as the sport demands. [Nov 2012, p.81]

It's very good, as we now expect. This year's installment just isn't a revolutionary leap. [Nov 2012, p.81]

A seriously engrossing game that really, truly blends shooters and RPGs to brilliant effect. [Nov 2012, p.75]

There's more content and variety here than in any other entry in the series, and its stories - while a little too goofy to really take seriously - are nonetheless fascinating, particularly for those of us who've watched these characters grow and develop over the years...RE6 is a strange experience, to be sure - but more importantly, it's an unforgettable one. [Nov 2012, p.56]

Though a competent simulation racer, it's tough to overlook Legends' many shortcomings. [Oct 2012, p.85]

This PSP edition has a lot of extra content compared to the PS2 original, though, so fans of the series might want to give it a shot regardless. [Oct 2012, p.85]

It never pretends to be a serious game, and though it might be a little too pricey for dumb entertainment, it does provide some fluffy sandbox fun. [Oct 2012, p.85]

Fan service doesn't get any better than this. [Oct 2012, p.84]

Does Rainbow Moon pack enough gameplay to pass 15 dollars worth of time? Absolutely, and then some. [Oct 2012, p.84]

Dyad remains a worthwhile trek, but it mesmerizes in spurts rather than with a consistent tenor. [Oct 2012, p.83]

But even with a limited breadth of content, Tony Hawk HD manages to dish out more nostalgic fun for $15 than our last few retail purchases combined. [Oct 2012, p.83]

Despite its brief tenure(less than four hours)and light mechanics, it's one of the most powerful and impactful games we've every played. [Oct 2012, p.82]

In other words, even when this punished, superior sequel is kicking our ass and crushing our soul, it still feels fair, fun, and rewarding as hell. [Oct 202, p.80]

After its tumultuous history, Sleeping Dogs needed to emerge from cancellation as something special, and it doesn't disappoint. [Oct 202, p.77

While it's marred by frequent visual pop-in and frustrating checkpoint placement, Spec Ops is nevertheless a pretty significant achievement. [Sept 2012, p.79]

Simply put: this game looks and sounds great, and after some gimmicky missteps with the last few franchise entries, we're pleasantly surprised to find this is the Spider-Man game we've been yearning for, not just another licensed tie-in. [Sept 2012, p.82]

LEGO Batman 2 on Vita plays like more traditional LEGO games, sticking closer to the standard formula than the console version. [Sept 2012, p.83]

So while it's no shock that LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes succeeds admirably as a platformer, we were surprised to find that it also manages to reinvigorate a series that has every reason to feel overly familiar and tiresome by now. [Sept 2012, p.83]

This is a charming and fun adventure that easily earns its place among PSN's elite--and we could all do with a bit more thinking(whether with portals or dimensions)every now and then. [Sept 2012, p.84]

Resident Evil completionists who missed these simple shooters elsewhere may find them briefly amusing, but casual Move enthusiasts needn't snag both. [Sept 2012, p.85]

Vita or PS3, just be sure to take advantage of one of the collections. [Sept 2012, p.85]

Agarest 2 is a competent strategy RPG with satisfying gameplay, but there are better ones out there that we'd be less ashamed to share with our friends. [Sept 2012, p.,86]

Still, EA Tiburon delivers a game that might finally challenge Madden for the gridiron crown. [Sept 2012, p.86]

We appreciated specific parts of the game--such as the leveling, animations, and Followers--but it's still the bottom of the JRPG barrel. [Sept 2012, p.87]

The game looks and plays well enough but isn't particularly engaging(unless you're a Jeremy McGrath fan). [Sept 2012, p.87]

Babel Rising can be fun and looks great, but needs a lot more refinement before it reaches a biblical level of gaming goodness. [Sept 2012, p.87]

Don't get us wrong--watching Juliet dash across the battlefield, chainsaw in hand, was entertaining in its own right. We just wish more emphasis was placed on making it fun to play and not just fun to watch. [Aug 2012, p.75]

There've been a few games that have made owning a Vita worthwhile, but Gravity Rush is the first to make it absolutely essential. [Aug 2012, p.78]

Final Fantasy Tactic addicts should almost feel right at home. Almost. [Aug 2012, p.81]

As a $15 stand-alone download, Showdown is an absolute steal. [Aug 2012, p.80]

Minor gripes aside, Sorcery offers up an absorbing adventure and fluid spell-casting controls, making it the most fun we've had behind the Move and a must-play for wizard wannabes of all ages. [Aug 2012, p.81]

Still, Rock of Ages is a true original and remains quite amusing despite some awkward moments. [Aug 2012, p.80]

On so many levels, Inversion is like a cheesy action movie. Yet just as there's some joy in losing ourselves to the Under Siege movies, Inversion has undeniable charm once we switch our brain to "simple." [Aug 2012, p.82]

Unquestionably a niche title, 4am's a cool experiment that those who crave something different can easily get lost in. [Aug 2012, p.83]

As a portable game, Burning Skies is adequate. But as the Vita's first true FPS and a member of the Resistance family, it's a conventional, predictable disappointment. [Aug 2012, p.84]

Those with a taste for the unusual will likely enjoy Datura, as it's contemplative and slow and builds surprising tension at times. But ultimately, it's just an interesting yet flawed experiment. [Aug 2012, p.86]

Clock takes a puzzle-driven adventure game and mixes it up with a side-scrolling platformer. Not a bad design template in theory, but not so great as implemented here. [Aug 2012, p.86]

If you wish more fights became all-out slugfests, Bellator is your game, but look elsewhere for something smarter. [Aug 2012, p.87]

The gameplay, inferior graphics, and "kill all aliens" story hover so staunchly between terrible and mediocre that we couldn't recommend Battleship even if it were a $15 download. [Aug 2012, p.87]