Reckoning provides many hours of good, solid fun based around character development and skill progression. Those looking for a deeply immersive experience should probably look elsewhere, but don't be surprised if your Civic runs nice and smooth while the other guy is busy patching the crap out of his Ferrari.

At the end of the day, Freedom Cry is a terrible game.

What's frustrating about Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 is that it's a game with a good concept and a battle system that has the potential to be fantastic if refined. What it ends up being, though, is a game with the smallest bit of quality at its core, surrounded by a suite of atrociously subpar elements.

With a strong narrative chocked full of fascinating characters and choices, DS2 ably sprints ahead with the torch passed on from the first game. Simply, those underwhelmed by the first game will not like this installment, while those who lauded the former only have to decide if the safety and security of structured, neat opportunities and a lack of tension hinder the experience.

When it all works, it sings. It IS Star Wars and you are living in it. But when it doesn't, it frustrates, perhaps because the best moments are so good that you wonder why it all can't be that good.

Tales of the Abyss is a completely straight port to the 3DS, with limited 3D included in a haphazard manner and no additions to the base game. However, when the base game is one of the best the series has to offer minus the technical problems that bogged it down during its initial release, it's hard to make too many complaints.

Despite lackluster music, Hakuoki is an enjoyable visual novel that could actually make gamers rethink their perception of Idea Factory.

This is a disturbingly conservative action RPG that functions as a museum of bad game design.

While Venetica is completely playable, I never would have beaten it without a review assignment. Gamers deserve a little more incentive than the bare pleasure of leveling up and hoarding loot to no real end. Even if that's your only ambition, there are much more attractive and fun venues for it. The developers seem to have infused Venetica with at least a portion of their hearts, and I hate to see passion so wasted. Then again, I could be wrong, and Venetica is the dreary result of pure industry.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was clearly a labor of love from creative people with the ways and means to bring their ideas to fruition, and it shows.

I find myself oddly pleased with my playtime of Final Fantasy XIII-2. The game isn't long for those who want to just take down the story - perhaps 25 hours at most - but it was a mostly enjoyable experience.

Dungeons of Dredmor isn't without problems, but the good humour and addictive gameplay make it an amiable purchase. It might not be to everyone's tastes, and the random generation can be frustrating, but for only a few dollars it's pretty easy to recommend.

It's trite but true: if you liked earlier Disgaea games, you'll like this one, but if you didn't like the rest, this one won't change your mind. If, however, you've never played the series, Disgaea 4 is a great place to start.

It's easily the best game I've played in a long time and the benchmark by which future Zelda titles will be judged.

Might & Magic Heroes VI's entire experience is driven by repetitious, mechanical tactics; it should be reserved for those with masochistic tendencies. The average gamer should definitely pass this up.

The game may look like Chrono Trigger, but it is decidedly not a traditional RPG. It is definitely more adventure game than anything else, as the doctors need to find various "memory triggers" inside Johnny's memories in order to move backwards from his most recent memories to his earliest.

There are better visual novels and better RPGs out there than Fate/Extra, and with similar themes to boot, so skip this title and play The World Ends With You; Chaos Rings; or 9 Persons, 9 Hours, 9 Doors instead.

The gameplay hasn't really changed, but it's more than serviceable and will keep you entertained as you make your way from punchline to punchline. If you're in the market for some cheap laughs, this game is an easy recommendation.

The latest Elder Scrolls has such confidence in the allure of its open-world structure that it shirks the need to compete. And, it largely succeeds in being better than the sum of its parts.

Mage Gauntlet takes everything that was pure fun about the best 16 bit action RPGs of old and tosses it into a light hearted, easy to play, and most importantly, FUN package.

It's a well-put-together adventure title that should appeal to people with fond memories of old school Zelda, and an excellent first effort from its creators. If there's one big drawback though, it's that Fara is short.

At $5.00, Serious Sam: The Random Encounter is a steal.

Lord of the Rings: War in the North is far from perfect, but it's an incredibly well-balanced beat-em-up.

I love this series, and even if they developed a Layton title comprised entirely of sliding block puzzles, I would still play. Such thoughtlessness is only fantasy, of course, because Level-5 pours their heart into this series. Regardless of how much heart they muster, however, the Layton formula just doesn't have infinite vitality, and with The Last Specter, a bit of wear is finally starting to show.

I know it sounds like I've bagged on Alpha Kimori here and there, but it's got it where it counts, and every complaint I have can be remedied. I enjoyed the 5 hours I spent with this game and look forward to Episode 2, which should reportedly drop in early 2012.

The decision to make a season-specific game deserves recognition, even if the gameplay and script might lack the imagination required by my favorite holiday.

Diehard DQ loyalists and tacticians will enjoy what this game has to offer, but those who want an experience – a game with heart and a story to tell – should spend their hard-earned medals elsewhere.

I expect Dark Souls will sell more copies than its predecessor, but I'm sure many won't know what to make of this curious title. It harkens back to the days when our parents bought us a game and we played it all summer.

This game has the potential to be the sleeper hit of 2011.

Players looking for a colorful world, a lighthearted story, and deep gameplay need look no further than Atelier Totori.

If you enjoy retro games on iOS, Dragon Fantasy is definitely worth your time. It has great music, good gameplay, and its only real issue is control.

As it stands, Innocent Sin is worthwhile for Shin Megami Tensei fans and those who are pining for the RPG days of yore, but those looking for the comforts of modern RPGs should look elsewhere.

Devil Survivor: Overclocked is a great expansion on an awesome game that offers hours and hours of quality strategy-RPG gameplay.

Although I truly believe that Bastion could have doubled its length in terms of gameplay, I'm glad that the story didn't risk imploding on itself. Don't let anyone tell you this is a Diablo clone–that would cheapen Bastion; it needs to be heard to be believed.

During my time with Crimson Alliance, I was left with a hollow feeling - the game never did anything to capture me.

Dead Island is filled with good concepts and potential, but it can't stick the landing. As it stands today, sadly,

In the end, however, what you have is a game full of ambition and beauty; one that can draw you in for hours as you plumb the depths of the world searching for clues and your own solutions to problems. It's not without some technical issues, and it's pretty clear that there were some areas of the game that were glossed over in order to make the release date. However, that can all be set aside for the excellent, engrossing narrative, stellar gameplay, and utter style that oozes from every inch of the game.

In the end, however, what you have is a game full of ambition and beauty; one that can draw you in for hours as you plumb the depths of the world searching for clues and your own solutions to problems. It's not without some technical issues, and it's pretty clear that there were some areas of the game that were glossed over in order to make the release date. However, that can all be set aside for the excellent, engrossing narrative, stellar gameplay, and utter style that oozes from every inch of the game.

There are fumbles present which hint at a larger scope that may have been compromised during development, but the core essence of player choice and flexibility stands true. The sense of reward for each thoughtful approach and calculation brought a smile to my face and made me feel like a complete badass. Just like the original, Human Revolution is at its best when it shuts up and lets you decide how to accomplish your goals.

Of particular note is the great climax and emotionally satisfying ending. It wraps everything up on a sweet note, and then manages to jam in an absolutely awesome throwback to the original film AND offer up the possibility of future sequels to the game.

Overall, Record of Agarest War Zero is a lackluster title that does not bring much to the table for gamers who are not devoted followers of the series.

You just can't charge this kind of money for an iOS port of a PSOne game, especially one that's not graphically optimized for the iPad. What's worse, if I didn't already own this game on the PSP, I could buy it new right now for $10 at Amazon.com and have a better overall experience.

The long answer is that Chantelise is a fun indie RPG that just needs a good polish.

As a freeware title, Sylia may be worth playing if you're bored and are in the later stages of Mercury poisoning, but buying Sylia at $20 is, well, silly.

The mature storyline featuring well-written character arcs, the deep and engaging gameplay, and the overall high quality in every aspect are all reasons that I can easily recommend this game to any gamer interested in turn-based PSP fun.

Quite simply, Bastion is a game with lots of character and precious few flaws. Any fan of old-school action RPGs would be remiss not to play this game. If every title released had Bastion's sense of newness and adventure, the gaming world would be even better than it already is.

OoT provides a worthy challenge, and I can't say many games today are making players think as much as they should.

Dungeon Siege 3 is an ambitious game that attempts to change the genre but fails in nailing fundamentals that were perfected over a decade ago.

So, in the end, what we have is an exceptional local-multiplayer action RPG with a good story and great combat and production values, fused with some of the best-loved trappings of the hack-and-slash loot-grab genre.

So, in the end, what we have is an exceptional local-multiplayer action RPG with a good story and great combat and production values, fused with some of the best-loved trappings of the hack-and-slash loot-grab genre.

You can get through a single town in one sitting, making it one of those perfect games to play when you've got a half hour or so handy. Many times, that "half hour" turns into far longer, which is really the best compliment I can give a game.

If you're a Dragon Quest fan, you'll pick this up regardless of my review, especially if you've never played the game in any other form before. If you're new to the series, start with IV, as it is a far superior game in terms of storytelling and overall enjoyment. Bottom Line: you won't find anything new in Realms of Revelation, but hey, that's Dragon Quest.

In the end, Daggerdale is a passable hack and slash that seems like it needed another few months in the oven before release.

I always like to support indie developers and stand up for the little guy, but I can't when a product is as unsatisfying as The Curse of Slate Rock Manor. The one silver lining in this unsatisfying haunted house trip is the professional quality voice acting from non-professionals. But seriously, 125% completion in a mere two hours? Shallow plot and characters? Mismatched visual styles? No skin-crawling creeps or jump-out-of-your-seat startles? Sorry, I'm not buying it.

If you're invested in this series already, this episode is absolutely going to deliver. If you're not a fan of Back to the Future or the previous episodes, it's not going to change your mind.

The Witcher 2 is everything that a good sequel should be. A continued story, yet one told differently and one that touches difference spheres of meaning. Restrained and realistic references to the original. Riskier, grittier, more confident presentation and design.

Overall, Jikandia: The Timeless Land is a rather disappointing game that pales in comparison to similar titles like Half Minute Hero.

Vagrant Hearts is like the average person's first home. It's a fixer-upper with a bunch of imperfections, but it still manages to work its magic on you.

Overall, Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection is a solid package, especially with an MSRP of $29.99. Even though it isn't the definitive version of the game, it is a solid way into the franchise and the best way to experience The After Years.

In closing, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together appeals to a very specific demographic: the serious fan of the SRPG. It is time- and energy-intensive, but the reward is immensely worthwhile.

What I do know is this: despite the million dollar game budgets that have taken us to this age of gaming, we are still in a place where a studio like Spiderweb Software exists to give us Avadon: The Black Fortress. This game reminded me of some of the best games I've ever played. Perhaps most importantly, it made me want more. Despite the fact that it probably won't be for everybody, and despite the fact that the mainstream may have moved away from this type of game forever, I'm still giving it an Editor's Choice award.

Darkspore may touch the imagination in ways Diablo doesn't, but the gameplay cannot move beyond the mechanical and the meaningless.

Overall, this is an exceptional game that will grab hold of your senses while you play and put you in a state of immersion that few games can match, much like the very best of its spiritual predecessors. A few audio/visual foibles and a slow, methodical pace might drive some players away, but for anyone who is interested in quality adventure titles or relaxing, contemplative gameplay experiences, I couldn't recommend this game more.

The expanded scope of the story, great dialogue, and improved puzzles all combine to ensure that this game makes good on the premise's potential, and even if you weren't sold on episodes 1 and 2, if you're a fan of the series it is definitely worth your time to catch up so you can check out all the goodness episode 3 has to offer. For Back of the Future fans, Telltale has delivered.

Trails in the Sky is not a game in which the gameplay shines, but rather the story and characters. It isn't deep nor compelling by any stretch of the imagination, but it is fun and extremely charming.

The 3rd Birthday is disappointing; it brings back a series and a character that fans adore, and destroys what fans held as a paragon. The narrative is filled with holes and problems, the tough Aya people were hoping for is absent, the gameplay is a mess, and the story tries harder to throw you into cheap plot twists rather than to be enjoyable.

I can't really fault Duodecim for being what it is: a title that's meant to be played by longtime Final Fantasy fans who really just want to see all their favorite characters together. However, it's undeniable that the game is broken in many ways – incredibly uneven difficulty, obtuse systems, and control issues both in and outside of battle.

Mark Leung: Revenge of the Bitch is a good game, but not an amazing one. It looks good and controls well, and although its humor can be juvenile, it is both creative and clever.

Perhaps Ar tonelico Qoga will quench the thirst of many wanting to play a console JRPG, but the game is filled with debilitating flaws. Almost everything that Ar tonelico Qoga provides has been done before in a JRPG; the lack of original content and presence of overused content doesn't leave much to praise.

It's not a must-have for those who already own the PC version, but it's absolutely worth a purchase for anyone who missed out the first time around.

Dragon Age II is streamlined, not simplified. It's a great game within its own rights, but issues with the overall story, repetitive environments, and control scheme keep it from being truly fantastic.

Dragon Age II is streamlined, not simplified. It's a great game within its own rights, but issues with the overall story, repetitive environments, and control scheme keep it from being truly fantastic.

It feels antiquated, but give it a chance, and you're likely to enjoy it. Plus, more support for the series means more likelihood that the rest will somehow, someday reach our Falcom-starved fingers.

And since I've already given this review some special treatment, rather than end with a flowery or poetic conclusion, I'll simply reiterate that Radiant Historia is one of the best Japanese RPGs I've played in years. Atlus has given us a winner.

In the end, though, I give Spiders credit for their work on Faery: Legends of Avalon. If they maintain the quality music and dialogue from the game, improve the plot, and fix the controls and world maps, they'll have a decent game on their hands, worth the 1200 MS points. In that case, pick up the first episode of the series. Otherwise, your money is better spent elsewhere.

All in all, it's decent to play, and Compile Heart is trying to improve, but they need more common sense in refining basic gameplay elements.

Cataclysm delivers exactly the high-quality gameplay experience we've all come to expect from World of Warcraft. Complaints about class changes and extreme difficulty aside, this is a truly enjoyable expansion and an absolute must-have for any current player.

Mass Effect 2 is as engaging as it was a year ago. Despite lacking some of the content found in the 360 and PC versions thanks to the lack of the first game, the overall story of the game is left intact and gameplay is still as excellent as it ever was.

Most of us, however, will find Two Worlds II boring, mindless, and dull, requiring (and consisting of) such little thought that it should have a warning label.

Most of us, however, will find Two Worlds II boring, mindless, and dull, requiring (and consisting of) such little thought that it should have a warning label.

Ghost Trick is worth a playthrough, if only to experience something completely unique in the graphic adventure genre.

If you're looking for fun, lighthearted RPG-ing with some laughs along the way, DeathSpank won't do you wrong.

An accessible RPG with fantastic dungeon design and charming graphics, but light on story.

Do yourself a favor and wait until this game hits a major price drop. Honestly, I've never felt so let down by a Kingdom Hearts game. As fans of the series, we all deserve better than this.

Lord of Arcana, at its core, is a solid title with lots of potential.

So in the end, Laxius Force III provides a satisfying conclusion to this epic trilogy, and fans of Aldorlea's grand-daddy series will certainly be hooked for days, weeks, maybe even months.

Don't go near this game.

D3 struck gold once, which is fantastic. Aside from the titans of the gaming industry, many developers have trouble creating a truly innovative title that's also good, old-fashioned fun. That was Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. However, after two major mistakes with what's essentially the same design, one has to wonder if they should throw in the towel on this franchise.

There are more little gripes with the game, but nothing game-breaking or truly miserable. It's the larger issues in gameplay, combined with an almost indifferent attitude to plot, character, and story that send this game into the realm of nigh-unplayability.

All in all, Valkyria Chronicles II will probably only appeal to a niche audience, due to its SRPG gameplay (and all the tiny little idiosyncrasies that come along with it), the anime-style production, and a reliance on preparation as opposed to being an FPS/3PS killfest or beat 'em up. However, for that niche audience, VCII provides all that you could want in terms of depth, and is a very polished outing for a portable device.

There is the seed of an interesting, enjoyable, funny, and simple SRPG in Grotesque Tactics: Evil Heroes, but it's buried in fertilizer.

If you're the type of person who skips cutscenes or nods off during long bits of exposition between explosions then steer clear of 999. If you want to try something new, though, I would suggest giving the game a look. Aksys has taken a huge risk in bringing something like this to America, and it may just be the necessary ice-breaker to bring a whole new genre to our shores.

Knights in the Nightmare is a hit or miss game, plain and simple.

Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a fun game, and it's worth the purchase for any Ys fan, if simply for the included soundtrack.

Admittedly, Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is not the same as the classics from two decades ago, but nothing ever will be. This is as close as we're getting for now, so take advantage of this opportunity.

Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals may fall short in a few areas, but it more than makes up for it in its dynamic gameplay.

It's impossible to deny that Rune Factory 3 is the best entry in the series. It has improved in just about every area it possibly could: the battles are more dynamic, the farming isn't monotonous, the characters are deeper and more intriguing, and the dialogue is full of variety.

It improves in some ways on things that were already good without really remedying the things that weren't working, but at its heart, there's plenty of fun to be found in this game, and as long as you find the fun, Fable III's flaws aren't too big to be forgiven.