With videogame versions, it’s all about the features and spit and polish. Shotest Shogi does some of those things very well, but ultimately new converts will enjoy it more. It’s a great introduction to a classic game of strategy.

I’ve played many a game that was jam-packed with features but had a terrible core engine that ruined the entire product. TNA IMPACT! is just the reverse, really. This freshman effort is a little light on overall content and features, but it makes up for a lot of this with a solid engine; upon which Midway can build better follow-up TNA titles.

For the rest of the RPG fans, there are much better choices when it comes to playing a JRPG stateside; none of which involve importation.

You don’t even have to be a psychotic hockey fan to enjoy NHL 09; just a fan of sports in general and of solid Xbox 360 software. Of course pick this one up if you live and breathe the NHL hockey season, but NHL 09 is also worth a look by those that are still searching for that killer, HD-era sports application.

NHL 2K9 shows that Visual Concepts has pretty much done everything it can to the same core engine that was used when the 360 launched. NHL 2K9 is a good game, but it shows its age in a few too many areas to compete with what else is out there.

There’s no question FB has style to spare—you gotta love the round card-carrying bimbos holding the cards upside-down—and those willing to put up with the early beatings will find lots to enjoy both offline and over Xbox Live.

Ok, so maybe NFL Head Coach 09 is more attractive to the play-calling purists without on-field action. But what’s up with the last-gen visuals?

What we’re left with is a clever idea that was not executed to any satisfying end.

Stick to the four or better multiplayer mayhem, and you’ll find Shred Nebula offers you more than enough bang for your ten space bucks.

The card game may be old, but it’s far from obsolete, providing a perfect counter from the faster-paced, high-concentrate titles.

Infinite Undiscovery is more of a gateway RPG than an all-out epic; real-time combat, less story-driven side activities/exploring and a shorter overall play time allow easy access for the JRPG n00bs. There are a few technical hiccups to get over, but Infinite Undiscovery is still a worthwhile romp for those looking for a JRPG-lite in 2008.

TiP is a unique, genre-bending title that may not be for everyone, but it pulls off what it intends to do masterfully. Its combination of creativity-encouraging gameplay, irresistible characters, and the addiction of crafting the absolute coolest garden—all complemented by candy-colored visuals—serve up hours of piñata-fueled fun.

The design and concept behind Mercs 2 is fantastic. Some of the artistic ideas and especially the music are totally top notch. It’s just a shame the entire experience doesn’t quite live up to expectations.

Regardless of how many join your fight, you’ll find Castle Crashers a content-packed offering, brimming with replayability, buoyed by unlockable characters and just-one-more-level addiction. Plan on crashing plenty castles before the holiday rush.

If gads of dialog, characters that ooze personality and freer form combat sounds like an RPG delight to you, then order up Tales of Vesperia pronto.

And even though it’s not exactly a major overhaul of the game, the improvements are great, the game looks great and it’s as fun as ever. Good job, EA.

It’s another one of those high-score hypodermic needles – you get addicted on getting a higher score so you keep repeating it over and over, working out new ideas for drone placement each time. It’s like a chess game at 100 mph, challenging and twitchy, all at the same time. On that point, Galaga Legions ranks up there with the best of them.

I don’t need games that make me this mad for so little payoff.

As challenges go, it’s brutal, so be prepared what you’re in for. Of course, what you’re in for is a brilliantly realized XBLA game, with scads of replayability, a hot look and a commitment to its arcade roots—if the MIDI-based soundtrack doesn’t pump your heart rate up to 120 BPM, then maybe you should double check that you’re even alive—that deserves our deepest respect.

Madden NFL 09 is a competent addition to this twenty year franchise, and perhaps the best that Tiburon has to offer for the Xbox 360. But one has to wonder why issues such as unnecessary clipping, framerate/loading issues and the lack of full Live functionality are still around three years into the 360’s console cycle.

It combines fun gameplay with an absolutely exquisite appearance - not going too far to one side or the other that it dilutes form over function, or vice versa.

Beating all twenty levels of Sequence will give you an immense sense of accomplishment. Or at least I assume it will, I haven’t been able to do it yet.

The sheer amount of features, including the Star Wars characters, makes Soulcalibur IV worth its premium asking price for those that adore this franchise. But it’s the synergistic power of these parts coming together that makes Soulcalibur IV a good recommendation to any player looking for a fresher take on the fighting game genre.

At budget-price, IF’s fantasy adventure is a consideration for sure, but those that don’t need Spectral Force 3 to complete some odd JRPG collection should save up their scratch for the big boys that will arriving in the fall.

This most certainly isn’t a game that you’ll be able to relax and play with a smile on your face. That’s not to say it’s bad, but just that it’s going to cater to a smaller segment of the Xbox 360 population looking for maximum challenge.

It’s got everything you might want from an XBLA game including extra downloadable content, multiplayer options including co-operative play and the capacity for custom soundtracks. What it doesn’t have is mass appeal. Still, somewhere out there is someone who’ll give Go! Go! Break Steady the love it so dearly needs.

We wanted to like Double D Dodgeball more because of the subject matter, but it simply doesn’t deliver the kind of experience we were hoping for. With better controls, the whole “playing dodgeball in space” thing could have worked. But we found ourselves worrying too much about being a sitting duck on the court to have time to enjoy the special, arcade-y features of Double D Dodgeball.

What EA has shown in NCAA Football 09 is steady progress and a sincere desire to put out a better product than it did a year earlier. NCAA Football 09 definitely passes that test with flying colors.