MLB 13: The Show is a great simulator, there’s no doubt about it. Baseball aficionados will appreciate the huge amount of depth, reliable and responsive control, top-notch presentation, and added enhancements. The improvements are relatively minor and in general, this is essentially a slightly better version than last year’s game. But there’s nothing wrong with that.

It's exactly what this franchise needed: A modern-day wake-up call that revamps an outdated character and gives us a role model of whom this industry can be proud.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.

It's a shame the graphics didn't receive an upgrade and we don't understand why the Japanese voices aren't included, but other than that this port of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 is a great PlayStation Vita title. The game still has lots of features and possibilities, and is covered with a tasteful layer of JRPG influences.

Crysis 3 is a worthy sequel that is highly entertaining on a number of different levels.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a visceral action spectacle that puts the emphasis squarely on the well constructed gameplay.

Aliens: Colonial Marines has little to nothing in the way of redeeming value.

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.

The environment is continually interesting and involving, the character and enemy designs are highly accomplished, the third-person action is reliable and responsive, and the deep weapon crafting system adds intricacy. But the subtler aspects, the slightly more artistic elements, the more cerebral parts of the production; they take a back seat to the insanity. Hence, the epitome of flash over substance.

A fun, challenging, well constructed puzzle-based adventure that occasionally drags due to tedious backtracking. The story isn't anything special, either, and some puzzles are goofy to the point of being obscure. But most challenges are extremely well designed and implemented, the attractiveness of the pleasing visual presentation, and the uniqueness of the seven characters makes this game well worth your time.

The story is clichéd and even boring at times, the writing isn't anything special, and the AI and some design decisions are questionable. There's just no denying any of that in my eyes. But it's so beautiful, so likable, so charming, and so well prepared with such loving care, that it's impossible to come away unimpressed or unsatisfied.

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.

Anarchy Reigns can be lots of fun, but the muddled and clichéd story doesn't help the campaign, and neither does the general repetitive nature of the gameplay.

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two has the right idea. It encourages youngsters to work together, that magical Disney quality is prevalent, and the overall design is actually quite good. But a shroud of poor mechanics and outdated technical elements dooms this potentially enjoyable adventure from the start. Bad AI, loose control, collision detection issues, and vague, sometimes boring objectives keep getting in the way.

The great design and high level of creativity is to be commended and appreciated, the game provides an effectively immersive environment, and Harry Potter followers should really love the style and the chance to become a virtual wizard. The end feels anticlimactic, there's no multiplayer option, and there are a few small technical bugaboos but other than that, this is a really solid step in the right direction.

There are a few irksome issues, including an abnormal amount of dialogue and some seemingly cheap design choices, but this remains a great downloadable title and one that's destined to push you.

You won't be overwhelmed by its quality but you're almost guaranteed a good time.

Despite the mechanical and control issues, the apparent cheapness of some of the many deaths, and a few poor decisions, the game does have at least some appeal.

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.

Co-op is always a blast, the campaign is lengthy and ceaselessly involving, and the promotion of freedom and player choice is amazing.

The set pieces are fantastic, the audio features some of the best highlights you'll hear this year, and there's plenty of player choice/freedom available in most missions. The difficulty is just about right (even though Agent 47 is a little too resilient, in my opinion) and fans of the series should be happy.

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.

An example of innovative interactive mastery.

Nothing more than a half-assed rush job, resulting in a monotonous, glitch-riddled, highly repetitive portable experience. The game looks like hell, the AI is terrible, the story is meaningless, and the controls just aren't right. There is some legitimate entertainment to be found in the multiplayer, but that aspect is so terribly plagued with technical mishaps and an overall ho-hum feeling that it's not reason enough to warrant a purchase.

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.

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.

Liberation isn't the stellar, revolutionary experience I had counted on. They just don't do enough with the story or protagonist, the experience feels somewhat dull and lifeless at times, and the game can chug significantly. Still, I think it's critical to point out that in relation to other portable adventures, this is really very impressive.

The Move is in dire need of AAA software and although I can't say Sports Champions 2 qualifies, it's definitely a must for Move owners who enjoy being active while indoors.

Given that kids are the primary target audience for Wicked Monster Blast!, the confusing and often difficult nature of the minigames sort of work against it. It's a shame though, since there really is some fun to be had with this game.