Zettai Hero Project: Unlosing Ranger Vs. Darkdeath Evilman is a lot of fun. It can be a mindless dungeon delve or the highly focused bout of number juggling and grinding that fans have come to expect from Nippon Ichi Software.

Regardless, Fallout: New Vegas is a great experience. Offering a huge world with many sights to see and things to do, players will have a lot to do in the Mojave where the only bugs that should be feared are the wicked flying Cazadores.

If you had a brother or sister growing up, then Costume Quest will speak to you whether you like it or not, much like that pesky sibling. Not only does it capture the spirit of Hallowe'en, but it perfectly encapsulates the brother/sister relationship into a short, six hour period.

If you had a brother or sister growing up, then Costume Quest will speak to you whether you like it or not, much like that pesky sibling. Not only does it capture the spirit of Hallowe'en, but it perfectly encapsulates the brother/sister relationship into a short, six hour period.

If you enjoyed DeathSpank's first adventure, the second one will be right up your alley.

There are a huge number of other issues plaguing the game: sparse save points, a quest-based structure with hardly any quests, and a difficulty curve heavily dependent on level are just a few. But the most obnoxious thing about Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow, beyond the clunky mechanics, beyond the poor localization, is how blatantly it attempts to mimic Dragon Quest IX, and how poorly it does it.

Overall, Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs is an enjoyable game in its own right, but feels like a step down from Shadows of Almia.

Rorona continues the grand tradition of creating an RPG experience that is all about the simplicities of life, coupled with the usual great cast of characters, and is a complete must for fans of the series.

Considering the game sets out to recreate a classic experience, it's hard to find any real faults in Etrian Odyssey III aside from the graphics and music.

It frequently plays more like a puzzle game than a tactical game, however, with large doses of luck being required to come through some encounters. The bothersome interface aspects ensure that playing the game is more a chore than entertaining, relegating it to the status of yet another disappointing DS game.

For those looking for an exceptional simulation-RPG experience chock full of great humor and charm, Recettear may be that diamond in the rough that you've been searching for.

A couple of hang-ups prevent it from being a truly excellent experience, but regardless, it comes highly recommended.

Valkyria Chronicles II does gameplay right, but lacks polish in other areas.

While Grand Bazaar can be considered a solid entry to the Harvest Moon DS titles, its problem is that it doesn't really do anything new other than the bazaar.

The speedy combat is addictive and goes beyond mere button mashing, so while Ys Seven might not be a AAA release, it is a solid title that deserves a shot.

Although DeathSpank is only roughly ten to fifteen hours long, it provides plenty of bang for your buck.

Although Dragon Quest IX's main story can be completed in forty hours or so, doing so would be a disservice to the supplementary material. These additional layers are what transform the most recent iteration of one of RPG-dom's sacred cows from a repainted throwback into an old-timer who has traded speed for the silvered brows of style.

With its numerous mechanical improvements, ridiculous amount of content additions, and of course the simple ability to carry the game around with you, Persona 3, RPGamer's RPG of the Decade, is at its greatest in Persona 3 Portable.

Most RPGs are meant to be played steadily, but Puzzle Quest 2 is most assuredly not the sort of game to be played at length. In short bursts separated from each other by lengthy periods spent doing something else, the mechanics remain entertaining.

Alpha Protocol is an excellent hybrid between a straightforward third person shooter, a tactical game like the Tom Clancy series, and a plot-driven epic like Mass Effect; it is unlike anything else on the market.

Overall, Hexyz Force is a safe effort, bringing barely anything new to the table, but it will be appealing for those who are not looking for something complicated, or those looking for a decent forty hour dual-story epic.

While Monster Racers is an enjoyable way to while away a car trip or fill the time between longer, more substantial games, it is ultimately an inessential addition to most game libraries.

Despite a few places where the retro chic gets a bit too retro, 3D Dot Game Heroes is a terrific example of how to make old new again.

If ever there were proof of the old adage, "don't judge a book by it's cover," Nier is a shining example. While I cannot say for certain whether or not everyone will enjoy it, I can say that everyone should at least give it a try.

For those who were disappointed by the previous Harvest Moon offerings on the PlayStation Portable, this one is sure to delight, though it's not without a few flaws.

Perhaps if this game had come out in 2005, when it was originally created, when the industry was slower and the game releases were more spread out, it might have been more appealing to more players.

Lazy. Generic. Simple. Nostalgic. A light-hearted throwback to 90s gaming. Depending on your viewpoint, Mimana Iyar Chronicle is any or all of those things.

It's a solid game all-around that takes a good-not-great traditional JRPG and replaces the standard third-person dungeons with good-not-great first-person, tile-based ones, binding everything together with a strong apocalyptic story.

Infinite Space's flaws are noticeable but do not detract overall from an expansive, addictive game.

As far as Wii games go, Fragile Dreams is definitely one of the most attractive out there.

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening serves as a good stopgap between major releases, but it doesn't fully satisfy the Dragon Age craving.

Resonance of Fate probably won't be named game of the year or end up on a Greatest Hits list, but it is definitely one of the more enjoyable RPGs that I've played recently and should be taken into consideration the next time you need an RPG fix.

Pokémon HeartGold is an addictive game. There's plenty to do and lots of secrets to uncover.

Yakuza 3 has tons to offer for RPGamers of all kinds, and if nothing else, you can at least kick loads of gangster ass while taking names.

As long as you don't judge the game on its beginning, Final Fantasy XIII is a game worthy of the series, and a terrific game in its own right.

Although Silver Star Harmony is not a perfect remake, it's one that definitely received a lot of tender love and care.

Although the combat system is unique, the progressively easy difficulty, atrocious story, and subpar visuals make Last Rebellion difficult to recommend. It's also incredibly short, requiring less than fifteen hours to complete the game.

Ragnarok DS could have been a happy marriage between the addictive combat of an MMORPG and the enjoyable stories found in the best offline games.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians is not a particularly horrid game, just an undistinguished one that does little to inspire anyone unfamiliar with its source into playing it.

Shiren the Wanderer tears the heart and soul out of everything that makes games in this subgenre fun or even bearable, leaving a very basic, uninspired randomized crawler with no personality or bells and whistles, then wraps it into an interface that's awkward at its best, and slow and frustrating at its worst.

It's a shame that the (supposedly) final entry into the Star Ocean series is marred by so many cosmetic and localization problems, because the game does sport a great easy-to-use item creation system and a fast-paced rough-and-tumble combat system.

This foundation is shaky at best, so White Knight Chronicles needs some work.

BioWare made a great game with Mass Effect, but Mass Effect 2 is better in every single way.

Vandal Hearts is an affirmation that a small company without gobs of funds can take a game premise and turn it into a true treasure.

All things considered, Glory of Heracles isn't an amazing game, but it has enough charm to satisfy RPGamers looking for a simple, story-driven JRPG.

Sands of Destruction could have been excellent, and some aspects of it indeed do approach greatness. Unfortunately, its many irritations in combat cause the game to fall short of the lofty status it wanted to achieve.

Being derivative is generally seen as a bad thing, and copy-cat games usually don't get much attention. However, Darksiders proves that being a copy-cat is alright if you manage to equal the source material in terms of quality.

There is fun to be had in Divinity II, especially in terms of exploration and customization. Unfortunately, the game's poorly plotted story and uneven difficulty will challenge the patience of most players, even those who enjoy parts of the game.

This game is a mini-game collection masquerading as an epic adventure, and it doesn't even pull that off well.

Aside from the travel issue, Spirit Tracks is, in every way, a better game than Phantom Hourglass. Sadly, the travel gets so frustrating later in the game that it really drags the whole thing down.

Capybara Games has done a phenomenal job creating a very unique RPG/puzzle hybrid that will keep gamers happy.

The seven to fifteen hours required for completing Fighting Fantasy will be a by-and-large frustrating experience.

Armored Princess cleans up and expands considerably on The Legend but manages to stumble over itself with a punishing difficulty curve and a few errors of its own that manage to pull the game down more than the improvements buoy it.

While the game has a lot of potential and is shiny on the surface, it lacks the depth and accessibility that prior puzzle-bending titles have offered and serves up a game that's ultimately a Bejeweled Twist variant done up pretty.

Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands can take anywhere between forty to one hundred hours to complete, and the difficulty of the game depends on the pace players take. In this particular title, with the right requirements and criteria while performing tasks, Sunshine Islands can be a very rewarding game to fans of the series.

It isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and its choice of storyline from the series makes a sequel unavoidable, but at last a worthy RPG featuring Akira Toriyama's magnum opus has been created.

Dragon Age: Origins is a complete package. It offers true role-playing, a diverse and engaging story, plentiful customization options, humorous dialogue, deep gameplay, and lots of variety.

Overall, League of Legends holds a lot of promise, but comes up short as a retail product.

It's sad to see a game whose concept has a lot of potential but doesn't follow through with a better presentation.

With phenomenal music and great art direction, combined with an addictive combat system, it's hard to step away from the keyboard and mouse after the first floor.

Atelier Annie is a game that shouldn't be missed, especially if players are looking for a good laugh and some challenging tasks. Just be prepared to work hard, or else you might receive a beating from Pepe for slacking off!

For some it may be worth trying out, but there are many JRPGs on the DS right now that are more fun, more charming, more worth your time, and more likely to remind you of the good old days of being a young RPGamer.

Taking elements from shooters and dungeon crawlers, the game blends them flawlessly into a terrific experience that's an easy sell for anyone who loves either.

Despite these flaws, the game as a pure tactical scenario actually manages to rise above more prominent choices on the DS such as the Luminous Arc series, delivering a unique and enjoyable tactical experience that should engross devotees of the genre.

The memorable story, and the way it was told, combined with an innovative, fast-paced battle system, is what truly makes MagnaCarta 2 stand out for me.

It is quite possibly the easiest RPG ever made, which will unquestionably turn off many people, but if that isn't an issue for you, there's plenty of style and charm to be found.

Half-Minute Hero is a terrific game, and PSP owners would be remiss to pass it up.

While Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky makes constant attempts at humor, the efforts mostly fall flat.

The game is very hard, but not unfairly so; each time you die, you'll learn a bit more about the level, and you'll be able to progress a bit further. I was very surprised with what I found in Demon's Souls.

When all is said and done, most people will not find Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga at the top of their wish list. It's a persnickety game that offers little but repetitive monster slaying in exchange for its murky graphics and lackluster story.

Fans of Organization XIII will enjoy some insight into their favorite characters' daily lives, but many fans of the series may be turned off by the lackluster controls and odd story directions taken with this portable spin-off.

It's a shame that the battle system is as simplistic as it is, because the game has so much going for it, including a great plot twist, fantastic art direction and an ending that is a real tearjerker.

The game has a high degree of armor customization. The player could have a giant fish weapon, or even have a pair of devil horns and a bright red suit. Being able to fly and attack at the same time is unique and very entertaining in Aion. Those who do not like PvP should steer clear since a large part of the story is protecting your land from the opposing faction, but PvP lovers owe it to themselves to check this game out.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona was so different and unique when it first came out that it still feels like a fresh experience today.

Bleach: The 3rd Phantom is not going to snare fresh fans for the franchise, but at least it does not fail so completely as to be unplayable.

For every step the series has taken forward with this game, a step is taken back. The brevity of the game cuts into the enjoyment one may derive from the improved graphics, interface and plot. The mediocre boss characters and fights almost overshadow the interesting changes made to the hero roster.

In the end, the game was great, and though there isn't much replayability, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story makes you want to play it over from the beginning again, just for the laughs alone.

However, don't go into Muramasa expecting an impressive story. For gamers that want an experience full of beautiful scenery and engaging gameplay, Muramasa will provide just that.

Those who played and did not like the series, or who are bored with it, will find little here to change their minds. The Disgaea brand of near limitless levelling (and grinding to go with it), has always been an acquired taste, and the formula is starting to wear thin.

Dissidia's greatest strength easily lies in its longevity.

Unfortunately, while the original game really had a fairly interesting story, this game fell a little short of it.

With a simplistic, weak story that will only entertain young children and drab, tedious gameplay that only young children could overlook, Spectrobes: Origins is a game that should only be played by kids, and even then, any Pokémon game will provide them with three times the content at three times the quality.

Despite its numerous small annoyances, Phantom Brave: We Meet Again is a fun game -- albeit hardly essential.

Fossil Fighters does not have top-notch graphics and sound or a big name to call its own. Its quality lies in entertaining battles and having many addictive things to do. Its prominent use of dinosaurs is also a plus.

Despite a few issues with the boss fights, Little King's Story is an adorable and surprisingly challenging game that can easily addict a person for its twenty to thirty hour duration.

The occasionally good graphics, and the promise of fighting with fifteen foot tall, steam powered bots will pull in a number of people. Just about every other element of the game, especially the mundane array of quests offered, just feels uninspired and frustrating.

Fans of tactical RPGs will enjoy the game's solid and original combat, which will also appeal to those that have grown tired of playing the same old thing. Even those RPGamers who are generally turned off by tactical RPGs might find this new hybrid combat system enough to offset the things that normally turn them off from the subgenre.

The game isn't terribly long, likely lasting most players a bit more than twenty hours if they take their time, but there is room for a second playthrough if players want to try a different evil philosophy.

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is not a perfect game, but it is a pretty awesome one.

Class of Heroes is about the gameplay, though, not the story or visuals or sound, and it triumphs magnificently.

Black Sigil's unpleasant combat is truly a shame, because just about everything else in the game successfully emulates the feeling of playing a great lost Super Nintendo RPG.

Knights is something completely unique and as such has a learning curve. But, once the game is understood, it only gets better and better.

The game sounds great, looks great, plays well, feels old-school, and has a deep and interesting plot with characters we already know and love.

Despite its mostly average base components, Crimson Gem Saga is a surprisingly good game.

In the end, Cross Edge is a disappointment.

Steal Princess's entire structure is antithetical to exploration and its mechanics are more often infuriating than not.

In the end, the game was very fun to play, very fun to listen to, and very fun to watch, but the frustration caused by the game's inability to give better information ruined the overall enjoyability.

It's a simple hack 'n' slash dungeon crawler, and at that it succeeds. But with virtually no story and a myriad of pointless, distracting side quests, the game relies almost exclusively on multiplayer for a complete experience.