After a quick learning curve, one can experience the true satisfaction of a well-placed shot, and once in tune, FIFA '12 offers plenty of gameplay options to enjoy, including the now built-in Ultimate Team mode. Though it won't change any soccer-haters' minds as to the quality of the game, it will make the faithful very happy and offers a fun experience to the casual crowd.

Fans of the NHL series are unlikely to skip an entry, for any number of reasons, including the roster and uniform updates, the online play or the simple lack of competition, and there's no reason to start now, as this version's tweaks offer a genuine improvement over last year's well-regarded title, once you adjust to the more realistic controls (either through practice or tuner adjustments.)

ITSP is undoubtedly a work of art, even if you only based that evaluation on its unique and beautiful visuals. But the rest of the package more than carries its own weight, especially the design and variation amongst the bad guys and some of the level design.

Overall, Catherine is a strange beauty of a game that deserves to be given a spin in your console.

Fans of Splosion Man should purchase without hesitation, while newcomers owe it to themselves to jump, or splode, on in.

If you're one of last year's players who has come this far and what you've read hasn't swayed you, stick with last year's edition. It's not obsolete; the decks are different enough that you'll still have fun playing them. If you are intrigued, I say drop the $10 and get going.

Though Red Faction: Armageddon isn't the most creative game on the market, it's one of the most entertaining action games to hit the market in a while. Fans of previous virtual mining expeditions (scratch that; uprisings) on the red planet will feel at home with the game's easy to grasp control scheme and incredibly exciting mechanics.

The bottom line is that like the world of "L.A. Noire" itself, the game is neither black nor white; it has its grey areas and it's up to the gamer him or herself to determine how those grey areas affect their playing experience.

Portal 2 is everything a good sequel should be. It continues the story without repeating it, and adds new modes and features without mucking up what worked about the first game. And, most importantly, it still feels fresh.

To conclude, Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars is a huge diversion from the norm, but it's also quite a good game. In fact, it's one of the best launch titles for the Nintendo 3DS.

Section 8: Prejudice is a must-own XBLA title.

Don't hesitate to download The World of Goo for the iPhone if you love puzzlers or simply well-polished games.

The game is fun, it looks great, and given the relatively sparse offerings for 3DS launch titles, this one is easy to recommend.

I wouldn't hesitate to give this game the highest rating possible, if it weren't for this terrible marketing strategy, because that aside, it's a fantastic game and one of the best sports titles I've played. Don't hesitate to pick it up if you love golf, just understand the few drawbacks.

For anyone that's played the previous LEGO Star Wars titles or for those that love the animated television series on the Cartoon Network, Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars is a fantastic purchase that can be enjoyed by fans of all ages.

Okamiden never feels like a giant leap forward, but it was never intended as such. Instead, it shows that the world of Okami is ripe for further adventures, and that they can appear in new and exciting forms.

Easily one of the best looking games on the Xbox 360, Crysis 2 falls a bit short on the 8 to 10 hour single player campaign, but flourishes in offering up very addictive multiplayer.

The presentation is highly polished and little touches like the inclusion of the Rio characters as playable birds or the extra information included in the menus really help advance the core concept of Angry Birds.

It's easily one of the more polished poker games that I've played on any platform, but there's plenty of free poker games on the PC that can offer the same thrill.

Though the main challenge isn't that long, there's more than enough supplemental exploring included to give you your money's worth, and it'll be more fun and entertaining than the majority of what you've been playing lately.

If you are brand new to the Pokémon series, you are going to find Pokémon Black to be an incredibly involving RPG and darn entertaining if you enjoy the genre. It's definitely worth checking out and will probably keep you entertained up until the launch of the 3DS later this month.

A number of factors made this game a sales loser when it came out, but the passionate cult that gave it its high-quality reputation has a legitimate chance to grow now with improved graphics and a budget price as a downloadable game.

Highly recommended if you love multiplayer matches.

You are looking at about 3 to 4 hours of playtime with this add-on pack, not terribly overpriced for 560 marketplace points ($7). The main draw is obviously the expanded storyline, ideal for Fable III junkies that want to stay engrossed in the narrative.

In any case, You Don't Know Jack is an excellent choice for parties or simply those looking for a great trivia challenge with a liberal dose of silly humor.

Tales From Space: About a Blob is a very unique and charming game that provides a nice change of pace.

While Visceral Games didn't push the envelope in regards to opening up the sequel to new twists on the gameplay, they did an excellent job of capturing the terrifying intensity of the original in addition to providing a more captivating narrative.

If you haven't played the original Mass Effect or Mass Effect 2, you would be foolish not to pick this up immediately. It's an absolutely enthralling game that will easily last you 40 hours on a complete run-through if you are an explorer.

Unfortunately, this is the worst performing version of Plants vs. Zombies and oddly the most expensive.

There's also a value question around Shank. Before spending the $15, you really need a qualified co-op player on hand locally to help you get your money's worth out of the game.

Unwound Future is the best title in the Professor Layton series, but you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't play through the first two games to learn about the main characters.

The game excels at involving the player in the unsettling narrative and remaining unrelenting at making you fearful of every single step taken throughout the decrepit castle.

As one of the most unique puzzlers that I've played over the years, Limbo's chilling atmosphere is an example of an incredible gaming achievement.

If you loved all the other Halo games, there's little I can say to dissuade you from purchasing Bungie's last creation in the Halo series.

If you liked the previous God of War titles, you're going to feel right at home with this one.

If you are into real time strategy in any form, it's hard to ignore Starcraft II.

If you loved the first Super Mario Galaxy, you will adore the sequel.

Hardcore shmup fans need to give this a look, if only to try something familiar yet fresh, while if you ever enjoyed a game of Galaga, this is your chance to see where the genre's promise remains.

This is easily the best NHL hockey has ever been on a console, and it sets the bar incredibly high for EA's next release.

There's little to nothing in NHL 11 to complain about. The quality of the presentation is fantastic and you can tell EA went to tremendous lengths to tweak the gameplay to improve the hockey experience.

With the exception of the horrific online performance, NBA 2K11 is really an exceptional basketball title with a ridiculous amount of depth and a shockingly challenging AI.

While the game has a smattering of problems such as poor camera angles and too restrictive level linearity, this reboot of the Castlevania franchise has an enthralling narrative, amazing boss battles and tons of replay value.

This is the best Formula 1 racer currently available, but that really wasn't hard considering the lack of competition.

The biggest fault of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is not a poor gameplay experience, but rather one that's over a bit too quickly.

That being said, critics of the first game are going to find problems with Dead Rising 2, namely the highly difficult boss battles and the poorly structured inventory system.

The attractive price is not the only thing that makes this frantic space shooter worth trying out. Looking past the hit or miss humor in the dialogue, the action is absolutely addicting and you will be replaying levels incessantly to build up some space cash to purchase your next upgrade.

Ilomilo is an incredibly charming puzzle game that will likely be too frustrating for some players and the lack of a fully featured multiplayer mode decreases the replay value dramatically.

It's far more effective as a fun aerobic workout or a way to get your groove on if you wouldn't step foot "in da club."

This really just boils down to if you enjoy RTS games and the methodical level of pacing that comes with the genre. This is the first RTS game on a console that I have been able to tolerate.

The main problem with taking the series back onto the Playstation portable from the PS3 is that the series loses the grand depth that was created in God of War III. Sure, this is set in the timeline after the first God of War, but veterans of the series have already gotten used to the more complex combat system and epic bosses.

You are looking at about 20 to 30 hours of gameplay in the single player story and more replay value if you enjoy the multiplayer mode. Highly Recommended!

In the end, Criterion did something that no developer has been able to do with the Need for Speed series in over 10 years; bringing the game back to its roots and making me feel like I'm still at that computer watching my brother.

In the end, I'm really judging my enjoyment level of Pac-Man CE DX compared to how addicted I was to the previous title.

If you have a Kinect and are looking for a fantastic party game, don't hesitate to pick up Dance Central and start shaking your booty!

Is "Black Ops" a game of the year? No, but it's still a very good game. Highly Recommended.

The end result is a game that's among the most entertaining overall on the Wii, and easily the finest example of a first-person shooter the console has to offer.

The combat is a blast, the single-player game is faithful to the source material, online matches are appreciated, and the game looks and sounds the part.

Of EA Sports Active 2, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved and The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout, the latter has the absolute best use of motion tracking during the actual exercises as well as the motivation to keep you going.

If I had to pick out one glaring fault with Donkey Kong Country Returns, it would be the lack of classic controller support. Old school gamers will be disappointed that it wasn't included, but will be able to adapt to the new controls. However, the rest of the game really fires on all cylinders; dare I say, better than New Super Mario Bros.

If you have any love for the Back to the Future series or simply are looking to digest TellTale's latest click-happy adventure, you really can't go wrong with Episode 1: It's About Time.

Don't even hesitate about picking this one up. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is an instant classic.

From top to bottom Dragon Age: Origins is a quality adventure that’s worth checking out. The story and scope of the game are epic, the rich customization is appreciated, and the gameplay is a mix of familiar and new

DJ Hero is the ace up Activision's sleeve, simultaneously reinvigorating their music game slate while opening up a whole new genre to the mix (pardon the pun). And unlike the assembly line feeling of the Guitar Hero sequels, DJ Hero really does give a fresh spin (I can't help it with the puns!) on the music game world.

While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, A Crack in Time is definitely the best entry for Ratchet & Clank on the PlayStation 3.

Sure it may have its flaws, and yes it’s not the most creative RPG ever, but it’s such a joy to play that it’s an instant classic in my eyes.

Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars is the biggest and most ambitious handheld GTA game ever, and the production values really show in the PSP port, with its vastly improved graphics and audio.

For $10, “Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers” is a lot of bang for the buck.

If you enjoyed Sam and Max’s first XBLA outing, this release is a no-brainer.

Simply one of the best puzzle games to ever grace a handheld and a must get for any puzzle game fan, and the sheer amount of different solutions each puzzle can have will keep you playing for a very long time.

Whether you're a casual fan or a Beatlemaniac, a Rock Band guitar god or a neophyte, Beatles: Rock Band is the game for you.

While I've been critical of Neversoft's handling of the Guitar Hero franchise, I must give credit where credit is due. Guitar Hero 5 has fixed 70%-80% of the problems I've had since III, and is easily the most fun I've had playing Guitar Hero since Guitar Hero II.

If you're looking for a solid Arcade title to pick up then you could do a whole heck of a lot worse than 'Splosion Man. This game is a blast from start to finish and it's even better with friends.

NCAA Football 10 isn’t an earth shattering game, but is still very, very fun. For someone like myself who never watches football at all, it does a great job at sucking me in to the experience and leaving me thoroughly entertained.

While the game isn't perfect, specifically in the areas of its deeply flawed Legacy Mode, it still manages to provide a boxing experience like no other.

Yet again, a game on the Wii that looks to be well below my level of interest surprises by focusing on the gameplay and implementing solid, intuitive controls. That it's extremely accessible thanks to the tutorial-on-steroids story mode is just another feather in the Wii's something for everyone cap.

The game didn’t take me the 20 hours the makers claimed it would to complete, but it definitely saw more playtime than many physical releases that cost three times as much and delivered one-third the enjoyment.

Bomberman is simply just one of those games that is amazingly easy to pick up and understand, but hard to master.

Prototype is a blast to play. It's fun, rewarding, and stands as one of the better constructed open-world titles I have played in a very long time.

EA deserves a ton of credit for delivering not only the best golf game ever (on any console,) but a definitive Wii experience to be placed alongside the best first-party titles on the console.

Infamous is a well-realized game.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is the real deal folks. It's a hard-hitting action game and a comic book movie tie-in all wrapped into one package that defies stereotypes.

As I've stated in the past, I love point-and-click adventures, but Broken Sword, with its engagingly deep storyline, gorgeous art, fun writing, entertaining puzzles and terrific vocal cast, just raised the bar to a level that will be incredibly hard to meet for any game.

It's still Grand Theft Auto when it's all said and done, and most gamers who can't soak into the series won't find a different enough experience to sell them otherwise.

Killzone 2 is an awesome game that will grab hold of you and not let go for quite some time. The gameplay is fast and furious, the atmosphere is rich and deep, and all around the single and multiplayer features are fantastic.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is a lot of fun and it reminds me why I enjoyed the first game as much as I did. The simple puzzle interface combined with the role-playing elements go together like peanut butter and chocolate.

This is a highly polished hit that deserves to be checked out.

In the end, Ubisoft have pieced together an engrossing, intricately designed fantasy experience with Prince of Persia, one with a smooth and decadent sensibility that reflects on both its visual sumptuousness and meticulous framework.

If you want to really get into a snowboarding game, actually standing on a board is probably the best choice, and the integration with the Balance Board raises Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip above the pack in that respect, but it's in no way gimmicky, as it can be just as enjoyable with your Wii-mote, thanks to a very intuitive control system.

If you're a Call of Duty fan and were grimacing about Treyarch being involved with this installment, don't fret. World at War is a fantastic game from start to finish and the multiplayer is every bit as fun and addicting as Modern Warfare's.

If you're a Naruto fan then Broken Bond should definitely be on your play list.

If you're looking for an RTS that is cut from a slightly different cloth then EndWar is definitely the way to go.

If you're looking for an RTS that is cut from a slightly different cloth then EndWar is definitely the way to go.

Considering there are so many Naruto games on the market, it really says something that Storm actually stands out.

From start to finish Fable 2 is a great game that stands out as one of the better role-playing experiences on the current consoles.

Thought it may be a sequel in title only, Far Cry 2 is a fantastic shooter worthy of finding a home in any FPS fan's library.

Thought it may be a sequel in title only, Far Cry 2 is a fantastic shooter worthy of finding a home in any FPS fan's library.

The PS3 finally has a solid RPG and despite the fact that it is one that has been ported over from the 360 it's worth checking out.

Midnight Club: Los Angeles Remixed is a worthy addition to the series even though it has a few stumbles here and there.