Madness Returns is by no means a terrible game, as in fact quite the opposite is the case. But its enormous potential combined with its stubborn unwillingness to take much, if any creative risks, keep this one from achieving its fullest potential.

As a historical piece, it is practically unparalleled. As a modern game, it is rife with issues that would never be tolerated. In the end, it is a great addition for fans and collectors, but of very little value to new gamers.

An absolutely addictive and surprisingly deep and varied video pinball offering Marvel Pinball does the license right and establishes ZEN Studios as one of the most talented purveyors of downloadable content out there.

Could be more polished, and a tough sell at four hours with no replay, but certainly a uniquely crafted experience.

Nostalgia can be a powerful emotion, but as SEGA Rally Online Arcade proves, solely building a game around our human desire to treasure past memories doesn't necessarily make it great.

Bottom line: If I can only have one SRPG for the rest of my life, it isn't even a contest. I could play Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together for the next 10 years and still be finding new stuff to try. One of the best remakes of all time.

Escalation's maps are great additions to the main game, however the $15 price tag is still at least $5 too high.

A puzzle game that doesn't do puzzles all that great, but does feature a nifty offbeat plot and a world populated with eccentric characters. The art style is eye-catching, but the UI doesn't fit well with the PS3.

What we have here is a strange case. You have a fun, unique racing game surrounded by bad ideas. I still can't get over the fact that there is DLC in the box but literally two tracks until you hit level ten. And no, I don't want to pay for more.

I wanted Mirror's Edge with multiplayer, but instead I got Assault Mode from Unreal Tournament with more customization. That's not a bad thing, yet I can't help but feel disappointed. Bring friends if you want fun.

When the main reason I keep coming back is a thirty second mini-game, we have a problem. Really though, the game does the absolute minimum to be considered "good." While it's fun there's nothing that keeps you coming back for more. Shame, really.

With DiRT 3 Codemasters has stripped the series of most of the unnecessary hipster-fluff that previously held it back, making this the by far best rally racer on the market, and one fans of the genre would be dearly sorry to miss.

I really hope that other fighting game developers are taking note as to what was done here. Because as a fan of the genre this is what I want to see more of: fun fighting, great story and less extra junk. And Mortal Kombat has done this VERY well!

Sadly, even the veteran Naruto fans will find this title to be a dud. You can't very well enjoy a beat 'em up brawler who has a terrible AI and boring battles. What you've got here is a title that had potential but failed.

Naysayers, take note: when Valve says they're committing to a platform, they do it. Portal 2 is a mind-blowing accomplishment not only in terms of a console port, but in a sequel that somehow, impossibly, manages to outclass even its predecessor.

A classic example of a good-not-great game, SOCOM 4 adopts some modern conventions, but gets stuck in a rut between realism and engaging game play. Having the trio of single player, co-op and multi is nice, but none of it is very compelling.

Hoard does pretty well for itself on PSP, but it does make for a tough sell to PS3 owners, especially those that have the original game. It feels a bit too confined in its own world without multiplayer, despite its own metagame.

Crysis 2 is an excellent game - one with dynamic combat, smooth controls, and slick visuals. But the unimpressive narrative and rampant glitches hold the overall experience back.

While the Star Wars heart strings aren't pulled at with the same tenderness as the LEGO Star Wars Complete Saga, there is still plenty of genuine fun and exciting core Star Wars goodness that this is a game any true fan shouldn't miss.

This is the calibre of game that you would expect to be coming out for the PSP at this point in time. With unique features, nail biting battle and an interesting story concept The Third Birthday is more than worth the purchase.

A fun little fusion of genres that looks classy and makes creative use of the Move controller, StarDrone is a great investment for anyone who likes fun. Just watch out for those spikes!

The switch to a simpler play style is a welcome one, and it's great to see some of the legends of the past get their due. The presentation is top notch. Unfortunately there isn't a whole lot of content to play around with here, and it can get old fast.

MotoGP 10/11 is certainly not a terrible game, yet it has so little to offer besides its decent career and great racing core that it becomes really difficult to recommend to anyone but the most enthusiastic of MotoGP fans.

There's something for everyone with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12. Now is the perfect time to jump into one of the best series out there as it's never been more accessible. PS Move owners, even non-golf fans, should give it a second look as well.

There's a lot to like about MLB 2K11. While the series is trending up it definitely needs a makeover and a whole lot of polish to break through the negative reputation tied to it. It's not an ace but it's a serviceable mid-rotation starter.

Rush N' Attack: Ex-Patriot is proof that some game franchises are best left forgotten in a dusty warehouse somewhere. If developers insist on reviving these games, they need to at least do something innovative. Keep trying, Konami.

I'm probably skewing that score a bit high due to my love of the genre, but we don't get many entries in this category. It's a budget title that will scratch the itch for wrecking cars, but it doesn't run too deep or look that classy.

This may even be a bit generous given all of the problems. Eutechnyx is trying to fix things and I commend them for that; unfortunately it just feels like a beta test and that's just unacceptable. We'll just have to see how they build on this next year.

This title falls flat because it could have been something better. There's really no reason for a prequel... or a sequel for that matter. Square Enix should have taken this concept and went in a new direciton. Not the Final Fantasy direction.

You might wish for it to be a mite bit more complex, but this is the most soothing puzzle/music fusion to hit the genre so far. Haunting melodies and mesmerizing visuals combine with solid single and multiplayer action for an excellent package.

It's a bit of a step backward from the first game, missing some of the charm, and probably a tad too simple to challenge most gamers. You'll still find plenty of BttF charm though, and the next episode looks like it will pick things up.

For those of you who keep the N64 hanging around for some wrestling action, feel free to retire your old buddy. This game is a must-buy for wrestling fans and fans of fighting games should give it a second look even if they're not interested in the sport.

Lack of Infrastructure keeps this from a perfect score, but MLB 11: The Show is the baseball game for those who love the game, and even more so for those who don't. A truly professional package that sets the standard for all other sports games.

Severed is two more hours of typical Dead Space 2 gameplay served alongside a decent story that revolves around losing a loved one. It works, though due to a painful lack of surprises is definitely nothing you couldn't live without.

Mediocrity is a death knell for a game that is very shallow to start with. Lord of Arcana copies a lot from the Monster Hunter series, but failed to understand that the depth of combat was always the focus and thus fails at being fun.

'Kaos' may have been trying to spread their wings a bit, but the overall story in the campaign may have clipped their wings, more so with an abrupt ending. As interesting and deep as the SP world and MP gameplay can be, it's a tad outclassed by the rest.

It can honestly be said that de Blob 2 will be fun game for any age gamer. Whether you want some colorful platformming or just want a fun game to veg-out to after work - de Blob 2 will fit the bill!

Minis are always hard to judge since they aren't designed to be deep, but what Pix'n Love Rush lacks in original gameplay it makes up for in style and variety.

It's a game everyone should experience.

I really hate to do this. I love NIS. I'll say that until the end. But Hyperdimension Neptuina was just plain bad. There's no real positive to this game unless you like big breasted anime chicks in completely boring situations.

It's a bit of a waste of the Patton license, but Legends of War does prove to be a competent strategy game with an attention to historical details. If you've worn out Valkyria Chronicles, this is a good place to turn.

This is a love it or hate it game. No game out there frustrates me as much as this title but I keep coming back to it for just one more fight. Trust me when I say there are going to be times you want to snap the disc in half though.

PixelJunk Shooter 2 is Q-Games' most complete and robust package yet, offering not only an excellently polished single-player campaign, but also what will likely go down in history as one of the year's best multiplayer experiences.

Yes, it really gets by just on charm, but there is quite a bit of content to keep you interested for a few hours on the pooper or the train ride. Definitely one of the better Minis available.

An excellent start to their latest episodic adventure.

A step back from the first game, lacking the retro appeal and suffering from what seems to be lazy level design and a paucity of textures. It's still fun to swing around, just not for the half-dozen hours it takes to slog through the whole experience.

Filled with well designed puzzles and charming humor, Tales From Space: About A Blob is irreverent fun that overcomes a lack of originality with superior polish and tight gameplay.

If not for the inclusion of multiplayer (no, it shouldn't have been included), this would be the perfect package -- especially with Extraction, which may not have had its dues on the Wii.

Stacking fills a role as a clever little family game that is great for a weekend with the kids. As a showcase for the humor of Double Fine, Stacking can't stand up to some of the past gems from the studio.

Play this in short bursts at the bus stop or whatever so you don't blow through it in an afternoon. Twin Blades is the perfect game for that sort of thing but not much else. It's not bad at all just shallow.

Even though SBCG4AP might not be the freshest IP out there, Telltale manages to do what they do best, which is some of the most humorous dialogue in the industry. The puzzles might not draw you in, but you'll stay for the story.

Thanks to its disastrous mess of a user interface, DCUO is unplayable for anyone lacking superheroic patience. SOE, SCE and DC Comics have colluded in an attempt to foist a dreadful and amateurish product onto comic book and MMO enthusiasts.

This is a game that deserves to be on every platform possible, and now, finally, PS3 owners can enjoy the sheer magnitude of BioWare's accomplishment for themselves.

The original was a movement and this sequel is a revolution.

A really fun game with a lot of different game modes that all provide a challenging and unique experience each time. At $10 you really can't go wrong,

In the end there are two reasons why someone would purchase this game. The first being that they really like the hack and slash platforming genre. The second being that they really like the goofy sense of humor NIS injects into all of their games.

Not really worth even the $15 price tag. You are better off putting that money towards a higher budget FPS title.

Dead Space: Ignition competently expands the series' fiction but fails to deliver in any other department.

A nice diversion that breathes new life into an older title, certainly worth the $15 asking price for those still playing regularly. It is a shame they didn't at least dabble with taking the levels out of the jungle and into the city though.

It hurts to not score this higher, especially considering the incredible writing and epic amount of well-varied quests, but the rampant bugs and gameplay that is getting stale really drag this down.

echochrome ii may not have the absolute head-scratching potential of its predecessor, but it is without question the right way to take the series.

Collecting and transforming into new costumes is always great, but the repetition and simplified battles are not justified by the $15 asking price. Once on sale, it's definitely worth getting.

Rarely do you find a package that contains so much nostalgia combined with original ideas for such a great price. Anyone looking to revive a classic series for modern sensibilities would do well to use Pac-Man CE DX as a template.

An absolutely addictive and surprisingly deep and varied video pinball offering Marvel Pinball does the license right and establishes ZEN Studios as one of the most talented purveyors of downloadable content out there. Buy this game.

I never thought I'd see the day I gave a Gran Turismo game less than a 9. And then GT PSP happened. The disappointment continues, but it's abated by what I can only hope are continued, frequent updates.

A classic example of a game with a lot of great ideas that loses its focus. With a little more polish, we could have had something special here. What we end up with is a title that air balls some of those wide open jumpers.

Don't take a less-than-great score for The Fight: Lights Out as a slight against the overall product. Though there isn't enough here to warrant the purchase price (a PSN release would have been fine, really), but in short bursts it's a blast.

Those of you who enjoyed Enslaved will have no regrets with this surprisingly lengthy and fun adventure.

It's great fun for anyone who comes to visit, and it will definitely give you a workout.

A great remastering marred but a few technical issues and oversights, and an awful mini-game collection. If you haven't played these games to death already, you owe it to yourself to see what you missed out on in the last generation.

Dead Nation takes a lot of tired tropes and manages to polish them up into a surprisingly fun experience. It's best suited for play with a friend, but even alone you will get your monies worth from Housemarque.

The lack of story, bland feel of the characters and overall lame fighting system condemn Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2. And it does nothing for the franchise unless you're already a raging fanboy.

Spelunker HD caters to old-school gamers unapologetically, and if you fit into that category, and especially if you have friends that do too, you will be well rewarded for your $10 investment.

If you know what you're getting into, you'll enjoy what Ken's Rage has to offer. It's as deep as you want it to be; but, you have to meet the game halfway. That's just not enough for everyone.

A worthy $20 PSN download.

It's a cute action-adventure game that will hold your attention and make you smile. I would recommend it to anyone!

It's just plain fun. No other way around it. Criterion managed to bring back a series on the brink of collapse and make it into the best racing game of the year.

With The Force Unleashed II, LucasArts has made notable improvements regarding visuals and combat. However, the story is so short and lackluster, you'll quickly wonder why you're playing.

A fairly decent jigsaw puzzle simulator wrapped up in a dull, difficult quiz game. Terrific if you are a Life Sciences obsessed teen or retired zoologist, but a waste of time for the rest of us.

A highly polished gameplay foundation makes Vanquish a title well worth playing, even if it's over far too quickly, something that unfortunately cannot be said of its cliche laden story and incredibly annoying character dialogue.

It's an average maiden voyage for the series on the PlayStation Move. When taken together as a whole package, however, the bad outweighs the good. It can be salvaged with a friend, but you have to cherry pick what to play to enjoy this title.

Black Ops is neither a revolution nor a revelation, almost scaling to the summit of a stale genre, while not quite managing to plant the flag.

It's tough to recommend Blood Stone 007 to anyone but the most loyal of Bond fans, and even they should consider passing on this at best very average 007 title.

The perfect timing of the release can help overshadow a lot of its flaws. It's great to get back in the saddle with John Marston, but I just wish we had something to do. It devolves to a numbers game, which is quite disheartening.

Ghost of Sparta is incredibly well balanced and highly polished. It's an experience that is defining for both Kratos and the system. If you own a PSP, then you owe it to yourself to play this game. If not, then it's time to finally get one.

Cladun really helps to broaden the appeal of the PSP by giving players a 40 hour game with small levels to help solidify the portable experience. Multiplayer isn't really a huge selling point, but the game will have your attention for hours on end.

Capcom fixed a few flaws from the first game, but left a lot of them intact the second time around. That doesn't mean it isn't still a blast to explore Fortune City, just don't expect too much here and you won't be disappointed.

A worthy Castlevania game but not the best in the series. Flawed but still worth at least a rental to complete all the way through.

A strange beast, this: funny and addictive and crass in equal measure. Seen as a sequel it can feel a little like a lazy cash-in, but seen as the latest episode in the life of DeathSpank it's well worth picking up.

If you like SingStar, but have always wished it had more hip-hop, then this is the game for you. I know that sounds like a facile verdict, but it's an inescapable one.

Alien Breed: Impact is a love letter to all the things that inspired the designers, but apparently they forgot to flirt with fun. Unless you still boot up your Amiga to play the original, don't waste time when there are better games in the genre.

This is a odyssey everyone should experience.

To have waited for this long though... we probably should have gotten a little more polish and originality for the price tag.

At a nice price point and providing a polished product, Lara Croft makes a triumphant return from semi-obscurity. Clever level and challenge design with the promise of more to come makes this a contender for PSN Game of the Year status.

I really wish the storyline left me feeling like I'd accomplished something. And the game is like a big fetch-and-make quest over and over again. But you still find yourself wanting to play just one more day.

A labor of love in every sense, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock dares to try something new and succeeds in spades.

Quantum Theory is the type of game we're going to find in the bargain bin at Gamestop in a few years. And don't fall for it then either.

Those who want to get deep into the game, have a wealth of options at their disposal however. Some of the frustrating bugs, such as rigged pit stops, questionable scripted A.I. and corrupt save issues might be enough to give pause, but Codemasters has acknowledged the problems, and as of writing this review are working on a patch.