Gorgeous from top to bottom, simultaneously old-school and yet nicely updated and an absolute joy to play Odin Sphere is a monumental achievement in art design and execution. Now if we could just get it all in HD.

So yes, I'm a big whiner about the new way the game throws all its different modes at you during the career progression, but custom soundtracks, online play, tons of subtle little tweaks to the handling, track design, weapons and even a few elements borrowed from past games all add up to one of the most insanely packed offerings on the PSP right now.

Better than the first, but not by much. If it weren't for some roster upgrades that more or less make the game, and a little more control over how your characters level up, this WOULD be the first game all over again.

The bottom line is that this is a fantastic value for the measly $30 Sony is asking.

Though SingStar out of the box isn't quite compelling in the same way some of the more recent releases have been, tracks-wise, the overwhelmingly awesome online functionality absolutely makes up for it and then some.

An addicting and enjoyable simulation.

This franchise may be getting long in the tooth but that doesn't stop LEGO Marvel Super Heroes from being a thoroughly delightful romp that's both funny and full of variety.

Saints Row: The Third may not be the balls-out, fun-filled romp that Volition intended, but when the game hits its highs, there's really nothing else out there that can match it. Come for the takeover of Steelport, stay for the creative mayhem.

It might be a little light on content for the full price, but if you’re a fan of eye candy, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better source of pupil fodder on the PS2.

This is a wonderful game. Hampered by a bit of overuse in some of the core mechanics, yes, but still a fantastic way of delivering an experience that you can only get when a great game designer and attention from the movie's director come together.

Basketball gameplay in NBA 2K9 is second to none of 2K Sports' competitors.

The real area where SOCOM shines is in the player models and animations -- where everything from a simple reload to the way a seal crawls across a muddy riverbank to the way a freshly-capped enemy lurches forward and back, then topples over silently -- drips with an astonishing amount of detail.

It may have taken half a decade to go from concept to execution, but Darksiders proves that time, adoration of the classics and a remarkably confident hand can indeed overcome the freshman development jitters. What a debut.

The freshest thing to hit the market since bananas. The wildly addicting gameplay and monkey-catching offer hours and hours of enjoyment, and completing 100% of the game is a rewarding task that can easily offer 20+ hours of gameplay time.

Skullgirls is proof of what an independent developer with an ear to the people can produce. It was simply engineered in a superior manner, by a team with more freedom than those from larger companies enjoy.

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.

In some ways Tekken Tag Tournament 2 feels like a waypoint before the next REAL Tekken game. Still, there is a huge roster of fighters and the same tight technical gameplay that is the hallmark of the series. Series fans will be pleased.

The series has been refined and honed to near perfection, but some serious AI bugs and wonky headset performance hurt things. If it weren't for the ridiculously hardcore and juvenile online community, it would almost be good enough to be multiplayer-only.

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.

Great controls (except for those stupid motorcycle parts), amazing graphics, a solid storyline and wonderful vocal performances add up to not only a reinvigoration of the series, but the best Tomb Raider game yet, and a worthy purchase for everyone, not just the fans of the series hoping for a real sequel.

PES 2013 is a very respectable soccer game that maintains its excellence on the field but unfortunately fall further behind in the bells and whistles department making it a distant runner-up in this year's battle for soccer supremacy.

Flight Control HD moves from the small screen to the big screen flawlessly, and remains as addictive as ever. Not only that, it provides another great medium for the launch of the new Move controller.

GRID 2 occupies a weird spot between sim and arcade racer. If you know what you are getting into this is a solid title that doesn't try to break any molds. Online racing a track design could be more compelling though.

It's Tekken, through and through. You'll either find that a comfort or a detraction, but love or hate the series, there's no denying that its reached the top of its game with this latest entry. If you're a fan, don't hesitate to pick it up.

It's just a notch below the Vita version for playability but Dragon's Crown on the PS3 still shines as the fullest-featured arcade-style brawler with unique visuals. The steep price tag is scary but there is more than meets the eye here.

The storyline in place is something that absolutely should be experienced, but it's not one that comes easily. If you can stomach more random encounters per capita than nearly any other RPG out there, it's worth it, but that's a lot to ask.

As much as the other categories sound good - the story really brought the game down.

Everything from the first game has been done better, cleaner and with more emphasis, but the free-roaming city is a double-edged sword, offering a sprawling metropolis to navigate, but a bit too much travelling in some spots.