Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is an enjoyable and intricate role-playing experience that might entice both anime and traditional RPG lovers alike.

It does its job well. It presents the gamer with a stable, fluid foundation and builds upon it with nice pacing and even an addictive, "I gotta get through the next part" feel. But the combat is definitely sparse, the Powers aren't as electric as I had hoped, the graphics and sound needed an update to reach top-notch status, and the whole thing just feels too much like yesteryear.

The Long Dark is a satisfying experience of survival that is both realistic and has good game mechanics. It’s very unforgiving and can be frustrating but gets better the longer you play and learn.

There's a brutal, harsh overtone throughout that involves some explicit content and things of that nature, but it's all essential. And as I said before, if you get all anal about the control, the lack of total realism, and some erratic AI, you're going to be disappointed. But I think adventures like this are all about the experience.

I had some difficulty keeping the Move correctly calibrated and the adventure is all over in only four or five hours, but the game remains good clean entertainment...okay, not clean. But you get my point.

There's a lot going on in DiRT Showdown and despite the small lack of satisfaction I personally noticed, and the relatively low number of environments, I had a lot of fun.

The most important thing to consider here is that NBA 08 is a really good basketball game for the PSP. It may feel a bit simplistic, but it still plays well.

All in all the list of songs tells the tale. If you like what you see, Singstar Country is worth your money. If not, consider the other Singstar options, which include Singstar 90s, SingStar Legends, Singstar Rocks, Singstar Amped (more rock), Singstar 80s, SingStar Pop Vol. 2, and others.

It’s fun for a good while, but ultimately it needs more variety or an engaging multi-player component to make it enjoyable for more than a few hours.

In the end, Ghostwire: Tokyo will satisfy that weeb-y curiosity when it comes to Japanese folklore while also giving you a fair bit of busy-work to keep your playtime high. Its overall gameplay is pretty solid, the story is above average when it comes to games from Bethesda-owned studios, and the feeling you get when you reach that points of unease can hit you like a ton of bricks, even if it does get repetitive from the second you capture your first set of lost spirits and send them off to Ed.

It's just that the story and atmosphere reign supreme and the entire production doesn't quite have the chops to support added immersion.

It's got a few noticeable errors, especially when it comes to repetitive gampelay, no drastic enhancements, and erratic enemy AI. But it's extraordinarily pretty, the controls are nearly flawless and quite accessible, and the fun factor remains high throughout.

It has some pretty obscure problems, like incorrect specifications for cars and no control configuration, and only one fifth of the soundtrack is worth listening to. But the rest of it is a pretty enjoyable experience from start to finish, as long as you don’t expect an immense amount of depth.

The Evil Within is an example of a great idea that lacks execution. There are scares a-plenty and very often, the fear factor is sky-high. The pacing and variety we see in this adventure are worthy of praise as well, and I appreciate how the atmosphere continually drags you into the experience. But with a decidedly outdated feel, difficulty that too often feels cheap rather than fair, old-fashioned AI and a sub-par camera, one can’t help but be moderately disappointed.

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

Syndicate really shines when you get together with a few people. The campaign really isn't bad at all – and I don't want to give the impression that it is – but having a ton of info thrown in your face doesn't necessarily mean you're fleshing out a story. And the pacing is off, too.

If Mercury had twice the amount of puzzles, a decent multi-player mode and some mini-games or other challenges, it’d be a great game. As it stands now, it’s a decent diversion that lasts 3-5 hours, but one not worth $40.

Portability is the game's strongest sale point. Deep down, Me & My Katamari may be the same old Katamari Damacy you've played on the PS2, but now you can play it anywhere.

PC players shouldn't give up that version of the game for this one, that's for sure, but if you have a hankering to control the lives of fake people in front of your TV, then The Sims 2 for PS2 should fulfill that need.

The soundtrack is definitely more mature than what was found in Band Hero, but LEGO: Rock Band doesn't do a whole lot to drive the experience forward.

The biggest problem most players will likely run into is the risk of the combat, fun and frenetic as it is, becoming too repetitive.

They do a good job placing you in the Scarface atmosphere, and Tony Montana is as big a badass as ever. With all that music, with all that attitude, and with all that charisma and panache, it can't help but hook every avid fan of the movie.

All in all, if you can get around the learning curve of Top Spin 3 and give it some time, you'll find a solid experience out of this tennis sim. If you're looking for a game that properly represents the sport of tennis, Top Spin 3 fulfills that criteria.

Co-op is undeniably fun, though. I enthusiastically recommend the game provided one takes the following caveat into account: it's gonna piss you off. You might bust a controller. If you're good with that, and you still want to partake of the aforementioned pluses, be my guest.

The technical elements won’t blow you away, the combat can feel tedious, and the story isn’t exactly deep, but the entertainment value remains high throughout. Playing with multiple characters bolsters the game’s variety, the comedy relief is always appreciated, the levels are extremely well designed, and the general feel of the game is just plain warm. It’s goodhearted, lighthearted, warmhearted.

Unfortunately, it’s near impossible to look past getting stuck in canyons with seemingly no way out, missing a jump and having to backtrack for five minutes, and endless load times to simply refill your health.

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.

Easily one of the best turn-based strategy games to come along in years. It offers a deep and flexible system of deck building and card playing, and, better still, it contains everything that has made the Metal Gear franchise so popular over the years.

My Time at Portia is a great addition to the genre. It’s not perfect but it is unique. There are times when the game drags and while it looks really good and interesting, clipping is a pretty big issue. But it does have some cool world building that I haven’t really seen in the life sim rpg genre. There is a lot to do in the world and having building as the main focus is a nice change from farming. The game is borrowing from a well used formula but changes it just enough to make itself stand out from the crowd. If this genre is something you’re into, definitely give this one a go.

It also makes no bones about what it is: A rock-‘em, sock-‘em shoot-‘em-up that pulls no punches – or in this case, bullets – and is unabashedly stupid.

Stacks up favorably to the console versions of the franchise. Anyone that is already burned out on the console games may want to pass on this one, but everyone else that is in the market for a street basketball game should rush out right now and buy it.

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.

Unmechanical: Extended Edition is a mostly rewarding and wonderfully atmospheric puzzler with only a few significant flaws. A few of the puzzles just seem poorly designed, which clash with the great puzzles that thankfully populate most of the game.

All in all the game is hours of fun but once the initial novelty wears off you might feel a slight tinge of regret. Not because the mechanics or because of the graphics but because of its repetitiveness. Otherwise, it’s a beautiful game and if you’re a fan of the series you can’t go wrong picking this up and playing it at least once.

With features missing such as instant replay and challenging plays, and bugs that will crash games and others that ruin player progression, the game could have used some more time in the shop... Even with all of its problems, Madden 06 is easily the best football game to ever grace a handheld.

Guardians of Middle Earth is a solid MOBA and one well worth your time and effort, especially if you've enjoyed similar titles. It doesn't sacrifice or change much in comparison to other MOBA experiences, and at no point do you feel like you're playing something that's watered down.

With a wide variety of weapons, equipment and tools, and a well-paced adventure that delivers some quality dungeon-crawling entertainment, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is probably worth playing.

The controls start out accessible, but get a bit nutty with the faster cars, but if you can get used to them then you should find yourself enjoying the $20 you spent on this one.

Creative Assembly's first console effort is a satisfying, action-filled hack-and-slash.

But every level is really well done, the combat mechanic is loaded with potential and is almost endlessly entertaining, the variety and diversity keep your enjoyment high, and the voiceovers, characters, and patented Spidey flair are all big bonuses. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives and with a touch more polish, this could've been an elite title.

An extremely challenging and exceedingly well-designed blend of clever stealth and platforming.

Graphically, this game is a treat. The backgrounds are colorful and depict a wide range of "horrific" settings--ancient castles, gothic villages, bubbling swamps, those kinds of Tim Burton-esque things.

The more I played the game, the more I found myself getting bored of it. It has a lot of great elements to it, such as the entire concept of co-operative gameplay, but it's sorely lacking in execution and variation. Worst of all, a solid online component could've saved the game, but that falls short too, as Army of Two's online is as barren as the rest of the game.

It's just an insane rollercoaster ride chock full of ecstatic highs and depressing lows. The highs win, but only because it's fun to watch that desperate boxer go nuts in the ring.

Overall, the graphics in Rivals do justice to the Underground faceplate. All of the signature visual touches are present, including the dark settings, the lighting effects, the blurring, the flaring, and so on. Likewise, the sense of speed is exhilarating.

As far as RPGs go, this is a solid one and probably worth your time and money.

The sound effects needed to be revamped and brought out more, the new features don’t have quite the impact they could’ve had, the technical aspects can drag, and the trick system – while mostly well done – isn’t perfect. Perhaps it’s best to wait until it’s a bargain bit purchase.

It’s intricate, complex, rewarding, and always addictive. It keeps you coming back for more because you simply must power up just a little more. It’s the hook that makes it dangerous for me to play any Disgaea game, damnit.

A superb racing game. Enthusiasts of the motorsport will eat this up and ask for more. Everything about this game is a quality product, from the visuals to the gameplay.

The biggest problem with Destroy All Humans! is that it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Sure, its story is different from the standard free-roaming game, but the gameplay is run of the mill, and there’s little innovation to speak of.

All in all, while I felt the ride was too short, I enjoyed every minute of it. Few games these days can offer a solid 6 hours of joy, even if they have quests that take 50 hours to complete.

This is a proper sequel that was certainly worth the three year wait. It's not min[d]-blowing, but at the same time it manages to capture everything that a videogame should be: fun. And it captures it well.

The gameplay itself holds up strong throughout any mode, despite the delayed controls and sudden difficulty spike, and playing with a friend is usually good fun. In the end, though, we had hoped to see a little more in Rugby 08 that would distinguish it from 06; something concrete that goes beyond cosmetic upgrades.

A solid, well-presented game that features a lot of creativity, great sound, and an action/racing style that really can't be found anywhere else.

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.

Visually it's disappointing, as the field detail and the framerate are the worst offenders. Lastly, the commentary is just barely acceptable, but may get repetitive sooner than you think.

With a proper multiplayer setup that allows for ad-hoc, infrastructure and gamesharing, and gameplay that engrosses you from the start to finish[line], Sega Rally Revo really does have everything rally fans, racing fans, and fans of the arcade franchise will love. Best of all, you can take it on the road with you.

It has some of the worst A.I. I've ever encountered, on top of a broken formula that only frustrates the player. No direct communication between the gamer and his controlled athlete mars the experience, as the gameplay feels more like guess work than anything else.

Teslagrad is a solid platformer with great puzzle ideas and some really cool equipment that never gets tired. The adventure feels about the right length to me, and the pacing is another highlight. As a 2D puzzle-oriented title, it gives the player a unique presentation style and a difficult yet satisfying set of challenges, which older gamers might really appreciate.

While it lacks the visual depth of a modern day PS4 game, it definitely fills that void with beautiful art and gameplay that deserves more respect than I had originally given it. It is one of the most charming and easy going JRPG games this console generation has seen, and I will certainly be crafting cute items for days to come.

With some smarter storytelling, better stage design, and variety, this could be a 10/10 game, but instead, this falls considerably. It punishes you a lot in the second half of the game, but you won’t forget how much fun it had been up to that point.

It’s not quite as technically sound as it could’ve been in my eyes, but it’s still awesome.

Resident Evil: Revelations is engrossing and legitimately frightening. The important control option, coupled with the drastically upgraded graphics and excellent atmosphere, makes this a very playable experience.

Guitar Hero is a franchise that's showing a lot of age. Plain and simple.

Fans of swearing in video games will also be pleased, as the friendlies have a tendency to shout "F**k" and "Sh*t" at the drop of a hat. Now that's authenticity!

Dying Light has its moments. It has a great concept and that concept is executed relatively well, with a few minor drawbacks. I still say the villain seems awfully familiar and the story is just way too predictable, and some of the main missions feature design choices that are definite head-scratchers.

What sets this Queen game apart from all of the other SingStar titles in the past is the sheer level of complexity behind every vocal performance of a Queen song.

An exploration title like this does not come around often. Typhoon Studios have crafted a highly enjoyable game with amusing humor and distinctive art direction. Moreover, this debut is a surprisingly stupendous sci-fi romp that shall make its swift journey to gamers' hearts and imaginations everywhere.

Overall, Disney Speedstorm is a good kart racer. The overly complex in-game economy and lack of Grand Prix or other modes outside of single races may push some gamers away, and I wouldn’t blame them. At its core, this solid kart racer does just enough to make it worth checking out, but it won’t be challenging the title of Mario or Crash any time soon.

A decent assembly of last-generation classics, even if Capcom didn't do quite enough with the package.

The controls are tight and responsive, the story is well-written and intriguing, that continuous fear factor is a huge bonus, and the Challenge system for ranking up forces you to experiment.

In summary, Old School Rally is quite an enjoyable title. It has an impressive visual design which manages to perfectly evoke nostalgia, and has a solid gameplay loop. There is a need for some more depth to make the game more rewarding, but when you consider the modest asking price, it becomes a hard deal to argue with. The only hope is that developer Frozen Lake Games will address some of the technical issues which prevent full access from certain parts of the game. Either way, this is a title that I really appreciate and feel that it could serve as a model for other titles trying to emulate the style of the original PlayStation’s visual presentation.

Amplitude is a bit of a disappointment. It plays well enough and it’s awfully slick-looking, but the lack of a diverse array of songs really puts a damper on the experience.

The foundation remains solid, but the execution also remains a bit dull. Sure, you're going to have a great time with the game for a few hours, but that'll quickly wear thin on you. Though I do suggest this: if the fun begins to wear thin, finish playing the story in co-op, or hell, play the entire story in co-op mode.

What bothers me is the lack of the fundamentals, the very basic and general things that have made Gran Turismo such a superb game. Yes, the physics are great, yes there's a ton of cars and tracks, and yes, despite all of these drawbacks the game is still quite a bit of fun. But this is a game that could've been perfect.

The portable go-anywhere nature of the PSP game makes it easy to tolerate that version's rough spots. If you like boxing, either version should make you very happy.

As long as you don’t get frustrated with the long load times and the cumbersome way in which you must unlock things, Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition is a fantastic game. The sheer amount of content that Rockstar was able to cram into the PSP version is very impressive, and you’re sure to get your money’s worth.

It's definitely a much tighter playing game than last year's version, albeit with room for more improvements to be made. If we could get a revamped ProStick, in addition to slightly tuned face-off mechanics, among other quirks, the next NHL 2K game could seriously go down as one of the best NHL games ever.

A fun, delightful, challenging romp through a beautifully designed world. It can really get on your nerves due to minor control and camera issues but it's also quite rewarding.

Dead or Alive 5 is, to be precise, a game without any identity issues. It knows what it is, it knows its fans like it that way, and it doesn't want to change too much.

Yes, it is repetitive and somewhat light on content, and it doesn't really push the PSP's capabilities, but it is also fun and extremely charming (in a dark, twisted way). Anyone that has been looking for a fast-paced, not-too-complex zombie killing game should definitely check out Infected.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale has a lot going for it. I find the single-player a tad disappointing, the learning curve can actually feel too steep for certain characters, and you may start hearing about various combat balancing issues (I'll bet money on that). But the control is rock solid, the entertainment is always of a certain quality with virtually no glaring flaws or drawbacks, the diversity and variety of the roster is absolutely fantastic, and the multiplayer could definitely attract a great many people.

Atomfall, at first glance, might be regarded as a Fallout clone, but the truth is it has a clear identity that makes it stand out from the pack of imitators. Its green and lush surroundings give it a unique flair, even if its story is still a bit by the numbers. The Rebellion title also has wide open maps encouraging verticality and experimentation, which you’ll need to survive its brutal but satisfying combat.

Namco's development team put a great deal of care and effort into this compilation and it shows. If you own a PSP and enjoy classic games, you owe it to yourself to add Namco Museum Battle Collection to your library.

There is a potentially interesting game here, but more often than not, its gimmicks lose their appeal and then you’re just left with a sub-standard and less enjoyable "Burnout."

This is one of those productions where there isn’t anything glaringly bad and there’s a healthy gameplay mechanic at its core.

A good game, and it hints at a rosy future for shooters and video game in general. I remain disappointed at the surprisingly outdated drawbacks, such as audio balancing, silly AI and occasionally unconvincing acting, but the result is still agreeable.

Battlefield: Hardline tries very hard to be something fresh in a world of familiarity. It just doesn’t quite have the chops to pull it off, at least from a campaign perspective.

Has a number of fantastic games on it that will have you coming back for more every so often, but these games have been released in previous collections already, and the omission of Sonic CD (considered the best Sonic to date) and Knuckles & Chaotix, while expected, is a letdown.

This offers plenty of bang for your buck, the racing flaws aren't critical, the appreciated variety and diversity adds that patented LBP flair, and playing with friends never gets boring. It should make for a worthy addition to any holiday wish list.

I don’t see a reason that EA feels like a port with no real enhancements is worth full retail price, especially since they couldn’t be bothered to update the horribly outdated rosters, which were already old on the PS2, and are even worse now. Toss in the awful load times, and you’ve got no reason to pick this one up.

Simply put, it's just not quite good enough.

Crash: Mind Over Mutant doesn’t do anything new. It doesn’t push the franchise into a new realm. It doesn’t innovate. It doesn’t necessarily have the long-lasting appeal or memorable moments of current generation blockbusters. But you know what? Damnit, it’s fun.

Demonschoolhas left me conflicted. I eye rolled past the story and found its characters one note. The combat is a slog to get through. It’s overly designed and under explained. I am not having a good time, but I also cannot stop playing it. Those who love puzzle strategy and a throwaway supernatural story will likely love it, but tread carefully if you are new to puzzle tactics games.

Unfortunately, the game does end up feeling underwhelming due to the mysterious lack of style that made the PSP games so darn fun. We can't really put our finger on any one thing, but it's probably the general feeling that the game just doesn't deliver the same level of entertainment.

As someone that's pretty much bored to tears with the FPS genre, I personally found Urban Chaos to be a breath of fresh air.

One of FIFA’s biggest strengths is its audio. From the announcing team of John Motson and Ally McCoist, to the eclectic mix of artists in the EA Trax, everything is top-notch.

There is a slight learning curve, but the game is without a doubt the most rewarding since, perhaps, Hot Pursuit 2.