Overall, Battlefield 3 is a winner. It just isn't quite the massive elite shooter that outstrips all other FPSs in every category. If you can deal with that, I'm sure you'll be happy.

Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is an interactive work of art.

Super Hot is a first person shooter unlike any other. It’s very narrative driven, mind blowing, fps similar to games such as Portal or The Stanley Parable. It’s quite the mind trip and the time driven game mechanic is actually a lot of fun. Just be prepared to run around saying “Super Hot” in your head for the next few days. It’s short but sweet and well worth the trip into this virtual world.

Rocket League is an extremely well designed and presented game, a veritable feast for the senses at times, and an undeniably addictive experience.

The redeveloped manager mode will occupy you for hours and hours, while you oversee your franchise, and the new online mode will let you test your skills against real opposition from around the world.

Ultimate mode would test even the best players to their limits. I say this because the entry price is $39.99, which is deserved, but not appropriate for those who’ll get frustrated just trying to make it through the first level. But if you’ve ever had late-night liaisons with a lady dressed in black leather and cracking a whip, then you’ve probably already bought it.

The experience is almost indescribable, and even if you’re not a big fan of motion sensing (and we’re not), you will smile throughout your experience.

This is visually one of the best looking games on the market. And with an engine that's gunning it at 60 frames per second, and capable of 1080i upscaled, R&C Future is also running on one of the best engines, as well. The gameplay is precisely what we've all come to love, except louder, more heated, more energetic, more fun, and with all new gameplay mechanics added to the mix.

After playing Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Daxter, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, the Socoms and now Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters...there was a question lingering over my head: is Ratchet the best PS2-to-PSP conversion thus far? And my answer would have to be a resounding 'yes'.

“Inglourious Basterds meets Fast and Furious” – a multicultural group of irreverent, colorful characters on a globetrotting quest to ruin Hitler’s day, week and life in a fantastic revenge fantasy setting. Brutal, absurd, clever, insightful and touching, The New Colossus is a rollicking adventure that has reset the bar for what first person shooters can, and should, be.

The best damn football game ever made.

MLB 08: The Show is the best offering of baseball you'll get no matter what PlayStation console you pick it up for. The PSP version of the game still features practically everything that makes the PS3 game so great, with even a few extra modes.

One of the best 2D fighters to come out in the past decade. Not since Street Fighter III have we been given something this quick, accessible, intense, fluid, deep, and so well done overall.

Yeah, I respect the Hades games and massively respect Supergiant Games, and have nothing but respect for all of the work the Balatro devs put into it, let alone the masterpiece that was Blue Prince, but they’re generally not really my cup of tea. I didn’t even like Balatro that much, but considering I’m not super into poker as is, I was not sure what I was expecting there. It might be the specifics here, the action, twitchiness, being able to play as these characters again outside of the original games or BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, or just something I can’t quite place my finger on. I genuinely quite enjoyed my time here, and hope the best for future updates. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m just gonna go find a rock to skip across these waters before I take another dip.

It's exactly what this franchise needed: A modern-day wake-up call that revamps an outdated character and gives us a role model of whom this industry can be proud. Our pride - however misplaced it may have been before - no longer resides in Lara Croft's chest. The setting is excellent, the character's transformation is emotional and effective, the control and combat is rock solid, and the pacing and variety is top-notch. They could've done more with the ideas they present and the multiplayer is lacking but beyond that, this one is a can't-miss for all serious gamers out there.

A terrific, amazingly fulfilling game if you are a follower of the genre in question. If you are, there's absolutely no doubt about it; you need to pick it up and play it.

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is exactly what you’d expect. The first game doesn’t quite measure up and could turn off newcomers (always a concern), and the games really don’t have a lot of “new” in them. But really, the brilliance of this top-tier action/adventure series remains in full view throughout, and the remastering veterans at Bluepoint did a good job.

You're getting a timeless classic with a great variety of new modes, and on top of that online gameplay. Moreover, its colors and vibrancy are visually stunning to behold. Add that all up, and you should be thankful that Capcom didn't charge more for the game. Because even if they did, it'd still be worth it. Puzzle Fighter is just that damn great.

If you’re uninitiated with Gears of War, Reloaded is simply an unmissable epic that you should play pronto. For everyone else, the suite of technical improvements will allow you to experience Gears of War as it was meant to be, and what you get is a luxuriously gratifying third-person shooter that makes a 19 year-old game feel totally new again. Sure, being reminded about the original GOW over and over isn’t ideal, and there are still unsavory remnants of its former self, but if you love the series and always wanted to play it then it’s time to load it up if you’re new, and reload it if you’re a returning fan-either way, Reloaded‘s a must-play.

MLB 14: The Show on PlayStation 4 is certainly the version you’ll want if you’re a hardcore baseball fan. It’s achingly pretty (with only a few minor drawbacks), it sounds great, and the gameplay is top-notch.

Exactly what it should be: an upgrade of a recognizable game that plenty of fans have adored. It's very pretty, the audio is borderline amazing, the captivating, addicting gameplay is back in full force (with even a little extra force), and player choice and customization immediately gives us a sense of purpose.

If you loved the first PSP outing of Hot Shots Golf, then you'll love Open Tee 2.

All in all, the list of songs tells the tale. If you like what you see, Singstar for the PS3 is worth your money.

It would have been nice to see a few more concessions made in the transition to the handheld, such as the ability to save anywhere and restart missions immediately, but minor quibbles aside, it’s a heck of an effort from Rockstar.

Some of the new additions are a breath of fresh air, while others feel like they were thrown in simply for lack of better ideas.

Bioshock 2 won't win any awards for its visuals, and maybe the sequel's story isn't as captivating as the first game. But for the most part, the sequel lives up to the original and fans of the original will still love every ounce of what this game has to offer.

First and foremost, "fun" was the order of the day when Criterion sat down to make this game. The user-friendly, extraordinarily streamlined presentation, slick technical elements, and emphasis on freedom is all conducive to that little yet all-important three-letter word: F-U-N.

I remember when the game launched for the PS3, a lot of gamers begged for it to become available on the Vita. Well, here it is and while there aren’t any big surprises, it’s still that immensely fun strat/RPG you fell in love with last year. Ultimately, that’s what matters, right?

While you may not notice any dramatic changes immediately, the more you play FIFA 09 the more you notice that it is definitely a step up from last year's game.

It's a fine effort, and the additions to the game generally improved the overall experience - but it just doesn't feel like enough.

The campaign is long and involved, the intensity, emotion and immersiveness continues to get better and better as time goes on, the technical achievement cannot be overstated, and the multiplayer is a rewarding bonus.

inFamous plays extremely well, and has an unusually fun character to it, on top of an addictive one. It boasts a massive game world that you can scale fully and interact with extensively, on top of a game engine that makes it all happen with minimal issues.

The online sessions can make for some great fun, and supporting offline four player support is also a great move. A round of applause for Clap Hanz.

What you need to know is that not only is the voice acting sensational, but so is the freaking soundtrack! I would seriously pay good money to buy this compilation of amazing work all as one set.

It looks fantastic, the franchise trademarks are here (most all of which are of a super high quality), and the blend of high-tech touchscreen and traditional controls is a triumph for the next generation of portable entertainment. You'll spot a few of the aforementioned sacrifices but they're not likely to ruin your fun.

MotorStorm: Arctic Edge for the PSP is great. There's no two ways about it. It does everything that the console games have been doing for years now, with the one and only difference being the visual sacrifice. But even still, it's a damn good looking PSP game.

By combing the best elements of boomer shooters of the past, the frantic action of DOOM, the rugged look and feel of Quake, and the arena shooter layout of Unreal Tournament, Bounding Box software has crafted a fun shooter that harkens back to the old days while still feeling fresh. While the noticeable drawbacks I mentioned keep it from achieving true greatness, I cannot recommend this game enough to anyone who wants to revisit the times when shooters could just be fun.

With a promise to feature every Ferrari ever made via downloadable updates, on top of a proper physics engine, you're getting one of the most complete licensed products out there.

Provided you're willing to work at it, and you can look past a dash of cheap AI, you can easily spend the entire NBA season with this game and love every minute of it. If you're wondering if it's better than NBA 2K10, the answer is a big fat "YES."

Modern Warfare 2 is a great game, there is no doubt about it, but its shortcomings make it feel as if the game has stagnated and doesn't feel evolved, at all. And in some ways, I actually think the first Modern Warfare was better.

A solid puzzle game, but it really stands out from others in the genre due to its distinctive style. The fact that you have to devote so much time achieving a new high score to unlock things is one of its few faults, and when you wake up bleary-eyed in the morning because you wanted to finish your game before you went to bed, you'll be cursing this fault.

Without question the best boxing game you'll ever play. Everything from the mechanics, to the value, the fun, and to the stunning visuals will not disappoint fans of both this game franchise, as well as fans of the sport. There is a ton of things to do and that helps keep this game's replay value high.

We're sure you've already got your copy of the game, but in case you don't...just go and buy it.

Trine 2 is one of those stellar games that falls just shy of elite status due to a few minor eccentricities and drawbacks, but that shouldn't deter you from giving it a try. It's absolutely one of the most attractive and rewarding games available on the PSN; it's pretty, slick, challenging, and even addictive. For those of you seeking the quintessential side-scrolling action puzzler with plenty of great elements and loads of appeal, look no further.

I sincerely hope that Rockstar decides to do an HD release of this for the PS3, as a downloadable game, it's surely be a treat. But this is a superb handheld game, a definite must own.

Even though the formula of this series hasn't seen a dramatic overhaul, the gameplay does continue to offer a very solid experience, complete with enough new features to keep it feeling fresh.

MLB 08: The Show is the best offering of baseball you'll get no matter what PlayStation console you pick it up for. The PlayStation 2 version of the game still features practically everything that makes the PS3 game so great, with the exception of very minor technical differences in online and the audio, and naturally the visuals.

The single-player campaign is both challenging and satisfying, the online multiplayer is fast and furious (fans of Resistance: Fall of Man should give it a try, even though it's slightly more sensitive due to its pseudo-sim nature), and it looks and sounds exactly the way it should.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a triumph of inspired strategy creation. The critical will focus on the minor shortcomings, perhaps because it's not exactly like the first XCOM, but the polish, relative depth, and overall intensity is absolutely unquestionable.

The sum of Rogue Galaxy's parts add up to a great RPG game that delivers superb action with real-time battle mechanics ("Kingdom Hearts" fans will eat this up). While the audio is certainly average in many respects, everything else about the game is first-rate.

The game has, arguably, the largest scope available on the PSP with anywhere between 50-80 hours of gameplay. This is a huge game and fans of the original will probably eat this up and beg for more.

I’m not a fan of the annoying protagonist and the story could’ve been better, but the gameplay keeps you coming back for more. You’re always riveted to the action and you never feel shortchanged or stymied. The environment welcomes your insanity and the game rewards those who love to play games with reckless abandon.

The best-playing baseball game available this year, although its presentation is the weakest.

The whole production is just exceedingly well done. Between online and Champion Mode, it's a legitimate Sports Game of the Year contender; it's just too bad that I couldn't quite get into the Legacy Mode.

Catherine is like nothing else but it doesn't succeed on originality alone. It features a spectacular puzzle concept, fast-paced and very rewarding gameplay, interesting characters and an effective story, and an atmosphere and style that's second-to-none.

There is a giant amount to get used to, but if you take to the style and the atmosphere, you just might lose yourself in role-playing bliss for many, many hours.

The product perseveres on the strength of its "oomph" alone and in short, it's not everything it could've been but nevertheless, the entire experience is one well worth your time.

Every aspect of the game; the gameplay, the graphics, the audio, and all of the various play options; just oozes "arcade" quality, except that this version of the game outshines the original arcade release in every conceivable way.

Truly is a no-brainer. So long as you have at least a slight interest in karaoke, you should get it--whether or not you already own any of the previous volumes.

Hopefully, word of mouth spreads quickly, because Folklore is definitely not something that should be missed out on.

It’s a very good game, but there’s just not enough improvement, and the big new features like online play and wrestlers’ voices couldn’t have been done any worse than they were.

All in all, for a mere $30, whether on your PSP or PS2, The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga is a fantastic deal for a series of fantastic games.

It really is that good, and once you score your first knockdown, chances are that you’ll get as hooked as I have.

An exceptional game. Feel free to pick it up just to see your favorite rap stars and thugs beat up one another. You'll end up getting a nicely designed fighting game in the process.

The game boasts terrific heart-racing gameplay, great presentation, awesome game mechanics, very tight controls, solid sense of speed, bright visuals, and a bunch of replay value.

It’s a good thing WE8’s gameplay is so good, because it takes your mind off the uninspired visuals and average audio.

In the end, Soul Calibur IV is a great title to have in your collection, and as we said before, you really don't need to be a fighting expert.

It knows precisely what it is and strives to excel in every possible way. And in fact, Bloodborne does indeed excel in almost every conceivable category.

For what it wishes to be, Demon's Souls hits the mark. Perhaps the audience in question is too niche to yield huge sales, but I'm confident in expressing my praise for this production and I expect many gamers to reward Atlus for this effort.

A bona fide blast. It's shameless, vice-ridden, and insanely violent, but because there's nothing gritty about the production, it somehow feels almost lighthearted. You just have to take things with a grain of salt.

The game does feel quite a bit like "THUG," but if you haven't played a Tony Hawk game in a year or longer, you'll be pretty impressed with THUG 2.

A rambunctious, thrilling, attitude-laden thrill ride. The design is slick and highly effective, the presentation is vintage DMC (while adopting a fresh flair), the combat offers fantastic variety and endless entertainment, and the story is a big improvement.

The control is just about right, the graphical presentation is loaded with beautiful animations, the roster is huge, and there's a ton of content. The story is still totally lame, the Challenge Tower can sometimes feel unfairly tough, and the AI is…well, MK AI, but those aren't deal-breakers.

All in all, despite some awkward design choices, Need for Speed: SHIFT is still a fantastic racing game, and once you figure out your preferred sensitivity settings, everything just clicks and you'll find yourself going from one race to the next, onto the other, and before you know it...it's 4AM.

If you are even a mild fan of Bioshock then you should definitely play this expansion, it is single player greatness that redeems the former episode.

Valkyria Chronicles is indeed one of the best games of 2008, and certainly the best strategy/RPG of this generation.

It'll keep you entertained for hours and hours, and the multiplayer capabilities truly are an absolute blast. Head-On is completely faithful to the Twisted Metal namesake and does pretty much everything right.

Hotline Miami doesn’t apologize for what it tries to do. It’s a throwback to the golden age of gaming but at the same time, it reminds us that over-the-top violence was always tongue-in-cheek in those days.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is a testament to old-school gaming and modern sensibilities. It balances the old and the new with grace, offering up a riot of radical changes while keeping the prime platforming appeal intact. All the while, the animation and art style propels the experience, making you feel like you’re watching your favorite cartoon. Ultimately, this all results in Crash’s most astonishing adventure yet.

When you're out and about and you've got some downtime, your fancy new Vita is just begging for some classic stealth action. If you're a fan, it's a no-brainer.

It nails down its position as a multiplayer-oriented (and thus, party-oriented) game and succeeds beautifully. Still, there's a part of me that resents the lacking single-player campaign, and the learning curve may prove frustrating (or maybe it's just me).

The lack of any direct competition seems to be taking its toll on the series as each year it feels like it's slipping ever so slightly in quality.

This is one gaming experience that should be a hit at any party.

The game can be a little easy at times, and the short levels hurt the flow of the game, but if you’ve been a fan of 007 on the big screen or on a console, you won’t be disappointed by his latest outing.

It's the Martian equivalent to inFamous and that's a surprise to us. Guerrilla's gameplay is solid and enjoyable, boasting fun mechanics that really draw you into the game, especially with the amount of destruction you're capable of. It's also got an extremely impressive physics engine that calculates your destruction in a way we've yet to see.

The stellar concept and artistic style of Transistor is nigh-on unparalleled. The mystical aura surrounding and permeating the entire game is original and attractive, the blending of real-time and turn-based gameplay is inspired (and yeah, it works exceedingly well), and there’s a surprising amount of humanity injected into this otherwise sci-fi presentation.

One of those games that just has to be experienced. Even if it's not your cup of tea, you'll probably be thankful that you tried it.

When all is said and done, DiRT 3 is a robust, in-depth and almost sparkling package that is immensely appealing to racing fans of all kinds. The realism combined with great accessibility is quite possibly the biggest draw.

An adventure title that is longer than most others. It features 15 levels, with 5 tokens to be collected in each level, mini games, 15 mini bosses, 5 bosses, beautiful FMV's, colorful areas, free movement, and so much more that my fingers can break from writing so much info.

A game that delivers the fantasy goods in spades. The ultra-anal Tolkien lovers might take issue with Talion and how the game is presented, and the AI and frame-rate issues are clear. That being said, this remains a wildly immersive, engaging adventure with an excellent combination of action and platforming elements.

Braid is a great game that will force you to flex your mental muscle; in a way, it’s similar to something like echochrome, simply because you have to “bend” your mind into a certain shape before you can fully comprehend the skewed setting and premise.

There's plenty of content, it's flashy and pleasing in so many ways, the presentation is singularly appealing, and the gameplay is rock solid. The load times are oddly slow and visibility can be a problem but for the most part, this is a highly enjoyable experience.

One of the biggest draws of Super Monkey Ball is the addictive multi-player games, all of which included here, and are unlocked from the get go.

It all just works so, so, so well. If this was my first Final Fantasy or even my first RPG, I’d think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever played. But I really can’t shake the recurring feeling that Square-Enix has taken something away from me. It’s hard to pin it down exactly, but it’s the void I feel when I subtract so many beloved role-playing elements.

The bottom line is that Rainbow Moon is put together fantastically well. It really is a very solid and complete package from top to bottom. There's enough depth to satisfy even the most hardcore, the blending of strategy and traditional elements is both innovative and extraordinary, the feel and style is just beautiful, and yeah, the hours can really melt away.

An interesting blend. It consists of everything I expected to see and a few things I didn't, the latter of which surprised me. I can't say the Strike Force missions were a good idea but at the very least, they're a departure from the norm. And the addition of player choice is definitely a plus. As for the rest, the high production values, Hollywood-esque presentation, relatively intriguing campaign, and a multiplayer that delivers on all counts, it's hard to say this year's CoD falls short. Some can say the multiplayer is too similar but hey, this is Call of Duty. The fans know what they like by now.

It has a few drawbacks – the story isn't great, it takes too long to progress, and some of the battle can feel a little underwhelming – but for RPG fans, it's a winner.

The game’s technical flaws are minor, and the game’s only other negative point is that it’s somewhat short.