When compared to any other strategy game on the market, Battleship has nothing distinctive to offer. The attempt to add in some action with the duel mode is a neat, but ultimately flawed, idea. The fact that it borrows so heavily from Advance Wars doesn't help, forcing players to continually compare it to better titles. If you're absolutely dying for Advance Wars on the Wii, there aren't really better options, but that is about the game's only selling point. For everyone else, it will be a bland and forgettable adventure.

Were this priced right, the bite-sized platforming combat would be worth checking out, but $20 is a little too steep. Unless you're really hungry for some new Vita games, it's best to wait for a sale before giving it a shot.

As long as you're one of the franchise's faithful, there's a lot to like here among the plethora of unlockables, an in-depth story mode, and solid online play.

Much like a "new and improved" cereal at your grocer, Trials Evolution successfully makes small improvements to its predecessor to cater to its fans. In that area, RedLynx has succeeded. Anyone who enjoyed Trials HD will no doubt love Trials Evolution. Unfortunately, those looking for something more than "more of the same" aren't going to find it here. As the name implies, this is just an evolution of what came before; it's not a revolution.

While not a true sequel, Alan Wake's American Nightmare does a fine job of expanding on the franchise's universe. It may not have the depth of exposition of the original game, but for 1,200 Microsoft points ($15), there's enough here to please fans and newcomers alike.

When it comes to re-releases of classic games, the most important aspect is ensuring that the original experience is preserved. While Dragon's Lair gets it mostly right, the sloppy Kinect controls and odd issues with the UI make it feel rushed. At 800 MSP ($10 USD), it's not the most expensive purchase, but it's also not a definitive version of the game. There are better ports out there

When all is said and done, Hitman: Sniper Challenge feels more like a polished PSN or XBLA title than the typical demo or cheap DLC item that is bundled with preorders. All it really needs is a few more levels, and it would likely sell well on the digital storefronts. Here's hoping IO and Square make it a full game one day.

Dragon's Dogma is a fantastic combat system wrapped in a boring package. When it is on, it is one of the most intense, exciting and engrossing games I've ever played. When it is off, it can put you to sleep before you see a sign of a chimera or Cyclops.

As a fighting game, Street Fighter X Tekken is a solid offering that is sure to appeal to both Street Fighter and Tekken franchise fans. If the PC is your only gaming option and you play primarily offline, then go ahead and pick up this one up. You won't be disappointed. If you also game on a console, though, there is little reason to go PC. Sure, you can get a higher resolution image and minimal loading times, but in terms of overall patch level and feature set, the PC version is currently inferior to the console options.

My only real gripes come in single-player action. Max has a very annoying habit of automatically switching to a handgun any time he's about to enter a cinema screen despite the fact that he might be carrying a perfectly usable assault rifle. There were some occasions the strongest rifle I was carrying in my arsenal practically disappeared after a bit of storytelling. This sometimes put me in precarious positions where I had to pull out a ridiculous combination of Bullet Time, rolling and melee (not always Max's strongest suit) to reach a weapon with more ammo in it. That led to a few expletive-laden moments, but it wasn't enough to get me to stop playing.

With sub-working core gameplay, Diabolical Pitch ultimately becomes little more than an exceptionally creative example of the limitations of Kinect. On a more effective control medium, it could have been a beautiful, if small, take on Suda51's every gaming hallmark. Instead, it is an elegant symbol of the Kinect's weaknesses. Even big fans of Grasshopper Manufacture should wait until they've played the demo multiple times before buying, even at 800 Microsoft points ($10). In as many words, this was a swing and a miss.

In the end, Unstoppable Gorg is a fun tower defense title.

Coupled with a solid co-op mode, the game tacks on several more hours to its relatively short eight-hour campaign. The thin story and dodgy AI are balanced against great set pieces and a decent ending that almost begs for a sequel.

Given the amount of development time and the public nature of the game, Fez no longer seems like a revolutionary title. The puzzle mechanics has been used in several different ways in other games (that were released earlier), and the move away from realism and into a more whimsical, older look has also been done by other titles. The graphics and sound are still charming, even if it falters in a few places. More importantly, the game does a great job of throwing in a number of obtuse and brain-melting puzzles, and the sense of elation when you finally solve them is second to none. Those who love a good challenge will have some fun with this well-made puzzle platformer.

Anomaly: Warzone Earth is an exciting strategy game that enthusiasts and casual fans should play. The role reversal does wonders in making tower defense feel fresh again; route and formation planning are excellent replacements for guiding enemies in other games. The ability to control an on-screen commander who has to worry about a myriad of things certainly adds a new wrinkle to the proceedings and ensures no lulls in game activity. The great controls and graphics make up for the sound issues, and the length and difficulty of the game feel spot-on. With the game available on more than one platform, that's one more chance for people to try it out.

Deep Black: Reloaded shows potential that may never be reached. The proprietary engine shows some promise, and the underwater action isn't that bad compared to what other games try to do. However, the land-based gameplay is quite poor with pretty bad AI, and the hit system lacks consistency. Your hero lumbers around way too much to make the player feel powerful, the weapon variety isn't imaginative or useful, and the water mechanic isn't used for anything interesting. With nothing of value to bring to the table, there's little reason for anyone to pick up this game over other, better executed titles.

As I said before, Minecraft is what you make of it. The game has no real end goal and a minimal set of instructions, so you decide what you want to do. It is a sandbox in the truest sense of the word, so it'll please those who like making things up as they go along. It still needs updates to unlock the true vision and potential, but what you have here is a very enjoyable and versatile experience that should be played at least once.

Skullgirls is definitely worth a look, even if you're feeling a bit burned out by the fighting game revival.

If you're a major fan of the TV show, then Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat might be appealing as a novelty, but don't expect much in the way of serious action.

Even though it only looks slightly better than its PSP counterparts, the game is still fun, and the core game will keep strategy RPG fans busy for a long, long time. For those who've already gone through the PS3 incarnation, there isn't enough of a reason to get this one unless you never invested in the DLC. For everyone else who are fans of the genre, this is a worthy enough purchase.

The Walking Dead: Episode 1 - A New Day is a fine example for what can be accomplished in the adventure genre. The story provides a great introduction to the world and merges well with both the comic and TV show.

In the end, Fable Heroes is just a way to earn bonuses for Fable: The Journey, which comes out later this year, but at least they've made it more involving and fun. Those who love beat-'em-ups will get some fun out of Fables Heroes as long as they don't expect something overly complicated.

Prototype 2 is undeniably an improvement in many ways over the original game. It controls smoother, has plenty of simple quality-of-life improvements, and it lacks many of the frustrating features that plagued the original. Unfortunately, it solves problems by erring on the side of simplicity.

The expansion doesn't really change the game fundamentally, but it adds more to the endgame of a city.

All in all, The Splatters is an interesting puzzle game that is more fun to play as you gradually grow to understand it. It doesn't always do a great job of explaining itself to the player, and it can be frustrating to learn, but when everything clicks, you'll definitely have some fun with it. It's certainly not a flawless experience, but it is worth checking out.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings - Enhanced Edition is a game that lives up to the hype. The story and game come off as more mature than other similarly rated games. The combat is rewarding, and the completely alternate paths and side-quests provide more than enough incentive to replay the game once you finish it. The sound is masterfully done, and the graphics show that, even with a few flaws, developers can pull off some magic with this old hardware. Both RPG and action lovers will be more than satisfied with this very entertaining title.

There are far better combat games on the system, and the only reason left to check this out is if you've gone through them all and are craving something new.

Birds of Steel is a title that casual fans will enjoy, but it has more appeal to airplane aficionados of that particular era. The plethora of available planes and the attention to detail really showcases the development team's dedication. The presentation is excellent, despite a few flaws, and the game is a meaty experience on the single-player side despite the apparent focus on online multiplayer options. It may not be perfect, but this is one of the best airplane simulators on a console yet.

The game is most certainly not for everyone - especially not with a $30 asking price for a massive pile of Quick Time Events - but those who loved the classic film back in the '90s should find it worthwhile, with a nicely thrilling tone, strong use of the setting, and just a hint of TellTales' sense of humor.

New players who haven't played these before should certainly give this compilation a shot, but those who have played these before would be better served by playing on the older systems instead.

As it stands, there isn't enough here to warrant a purchase unless you're really hankering for some video game soccer.

The underlying idea behind Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir good, but the overall package isn't up to snuff.

Ridge Racer Unbounded is made for the patient and the determined.

There are worse games, but there are also far better, and there is nothing that this game does to distinguish itself from any other. With Ninja Gaiden III, the series - and likely Team Ninja - has lost its way, and the result is an overdose of style with far too little substance to accompany it.

Tales of Graces f is a by-the-numbers JRPG with a top-notch battle system.

Your enjoyment of Kinect Rush: A Disney/Pixar Adventure will be dependent on how much you like the activities. On one hand, each level features a myriad of activities, and even though they all feature constant forward movement, they're varied enough that you'll rarely do long stretches of the same activity. On the other hand, the levels are fairly short, and the chances that you'll want to replay them so soon after finishing the title can be pretty slim. If you have young kids who are huge fans of the Pixar movies, the repetitive nature isn't a big deal and they'll have a blast with the game. Otherwise, it's a good rental for older Pixar fans.

While there's nothing blatantly wrong with South Park: Tenorman's Revenge, there's not much right with it, either.

As you manage your squads and try to take down the Queen's men in Jagged Alliance: Back in Action, you can't help but feel that the game could have been a lot more. The open premise really works and allows for you to tackle nearly any obstacle in the game as you see fit. The game is fun, but it has a lot of baggage and head-scratchingly rough edges that dull the enjoyment. The title does a passable job of bringing the Jagged Alliance series back to life, but it's not as good as it could've been, and it doesn't live up to the legacy of its predecessors.

Even at a budget price, I'm not sure that I'd recommend Blades of Time. It can be pretty to look at, and there are some decent concepts behind its combat system. It's also a better game than the middling experience provided by X-Blades, but not by much. As a whole, it feels like it could have used far more development time and play testing than it likely received. It's probably worth a rental if you're really curious, but I wouldn't suggest a purchase.

ME3 was a mixed bag for me. In some ways, it comes off as a television or anime series that everyone likes but is forced to put up with the filler episodes for the moments that matter. It offers a confusing conundrum of powerful story elements with an impact that can only be measured against the investment a player has made into the first two games. At the same time, it wraps much of it within uninspired mechanics and an ending that is satisfying on one level while coming up short everywhere else.

Kinect Star Wars is a decent title only if you ignore the myriad of flaws. Had the focus been on themed minigames and if the controls and objectives were tweaked a bit, this would have been a derivative but enjoyable title for casual Kinect fans. Unfortunately, the included minigames don't feel very fleshed out, and the main focus of the game delivers some underwhelming moments due to flaky controls and boring combat.

The Last Story bravely asks those who believe the JRPG genre has nothing left to offer to take another look. Beneath its surface, it bears little resemblance to its peers. At the same time, it's in good company as another entry on one of the most intimidating resumes in the video game business.

You need to be willing to work with the game long enough for that to happen, but Armored Core V isn't engaging enough for anyone but die-hard fans of giant robot customization to actually do so.

PS3 owners should rightly gravitate toward the MLB: The Show franchise, while Xbox owners may as well sit out this year entirely.

In the end, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is still a force in video game golf. The mechanics are solid, and the changes to the swing system give the game a little more depth, even if it means that veterans have to spend some time to re-learn the system.

Combined with technical aspects that feel like it doesn't use its resources well enough, and you have a title that'll only reach RPG fans who want a little fan service on the side. Still, for those people, it's at least worth a rental if you want something other than the big RPG releases from the last few months.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is a fun game that is simply buried under too much to be really great.

If you're coming from the PSP version, you've already seen everything here, and the best thing you can do is hope that this sells well enough to warrant a well-deserved sequel.

Kid Icarus: Uprising is close to being one of Nintendo's best. It is exciting, funny, and packed to the brim with content and style. Unfortunately, it is held back by an awkward control scheme. In order to enjoy Kid Icarus: Uprising, you have to give the game the benefit of the doubt and work with its flaws and foibles until you are comfortable with them.

Even with an upsetting frame rate and poorly implemented combat, Silent Hill: Downpour is the best we've seen in years. I enjoyed Shattered Memories, but that felt more like a slightly interactive story than a video game, whereas Downpour lets you explore Silent Hill in a way that hasn't been seen since Silent Hill 3.

There's little to nothing to really fault the game for, so shooting fans are highly encouraged to pick up Sine Mora on Xbox Live Arcade for 1,200 Microsoft points ($15).

There's no doubt that Zuma's Revenge is a perfect title for the Nintendo DS. The easy-to-learn nature of the title makes it inviting to pick up, and the gradual introduction of more difficult levels gives it an addictive flavor as you're always enticed to push forward.

Even if you found yourself enjoying Gothic 4, I can't suggest that you pick up the expansion, Fall of Setarrif. It's a poorly constructed add-on to a mediocre game.

Some of the more ardent fans of the series might be able to get some enjoyment from the title, but everyone else will be put off and turn elsewhere for their zombie-killing fix.

When you look past that and get to what really matters, actually carving your way down a mountain while pulling off stunts that Shaun White could never even dream of attempting, SSX is an absolute joy. Piling the tricks on top of each other, activating Super Tricky mode, and then nailing a Signature Trick while listening to a remix of Run DMC's "It's Tricky" thump through your speakers basically guarantees that all is forgiven. Welcome back, SSX. You have been sorely missed.

Tekken 3D Prime Edition gets its points from its well-done console-to-handheld translation and its absolutely gorgeous visuals. However, with half of the game missing in action, I just can't recommend this in good conscience. If you really need some current-edition Tekken on the go, then at least wait for a price drop.

Starpoint Gemini has some great ideas and concepts, but it lacks the budget and vision to really drive home those ideas.

There's nothing really wrong with PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond, but there isn't a lot right with it, either. It is an adorable but mediocre game.

Overall, MLB 12: The Show on the PS Vita shows lots of promise as well as room for improvement

UFC Undisputed 3 stands at the cusp of being the best MMA game currently on the market. The simpler alternate control scheme is a great way to make the game more accessible to casual fans of the sport. The trimmed-down campaign mode is more user-friendly and faster, and the level of customization is excellent. The inclusion of Pride FC gives the title some depth. Some aspects of the fighting, especially the submission system, needs some work, and the current online issues immensely hurt the game. Despite these issues, fans of the sport won't be disappointed with UFC Undisputed 3.

FFXIII-2 earns its score with aplomb, and I'd go so far to call it a sleeper hit. It's a genuinely great-playing game with an imperfect story, though to its credit, it eventually engages and justifies the wait. Its greatest battle now is escaping from the shadow and stigma of its big brother, but you should ignore the anti-hype, take a leap of faith and give it a chance.

Admittedly, Asura's Wrath is not a great game. The combat mechanics are uninspired and the title relies heavily on QTEs to drive the action. However, I'm not entirely sure it's trying to be a pure game so much as it wants to be an interactive experience. That may sound a bit like a cop-out, but I truly believe the interactive elements are there merely to drive the story forward, and in that respect, the game delivers beautifully. Asura's Wrath is a strange bird indeed, throwing in so many disparate elements that all manage to somehow come together and create a compelling, fun experience. This game is weird, but it's weird in the right ways.

Overall, Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 3D feels like another great entry into the series, but it also feels like little more than an upgrade over PES 2011. It's nice to have a portable version, and it doesn't feel like anything was lost in the transition to the 3DS, but if you have access to a home console iteration, that is definitely the better way to go. It would be great to see Konami put more effort into the accessibility of the game for newcomers, but PES 2012 doesn't address that. Hopefully next year, we'll see a more refined and user-friendly PES - but without losing all of these fantastic modes.

If you have a dedicated group of friends who are ready to toss down on some Mario-themed minigames and game board shenanigans, then you're probably good to go with Mario Party 9.

Ram Racing is a decidedly below-average racer that elicits more groans than cheers.

I have a hard time recommending the PC version of Homefront. It's a decent game with a unique take on world events, and its fresh and fun new ideas for two-mode, bot-less, online only multiplayer kept me coming back long after I'd waved adieu to the single-player portion, but the performance and playability on this platform is far eclipsed by the stability found on consoles.

Mass Effect 3 is not a bad game, but it doesn't feel like Bioware learned much from Mass Effect 2. If you enjoyed the previous game, there's plenty to like here, and the bad parts are easy enough to ignore. However, the problems make Mass Effect 3 a game for fans only.

Coupled with the great technical feats and good online play, the game is fun one for genre fans.

Kung-Fu High Impact is a fun title that feels overpriced. The basic concept is solid, and the game's execution is good. The freedom complements the goofy nature of the game rather well, and the controls perform much better than most Kinect attempts. However, the short length of the game and the lack of any X360-specific features make one wonder why this was released at retail with such a high price point. Should the price drop, this is easy to recommend for times when you want to play with the Kinect but don't feel like playing the typical dance and exercise games.

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D is a very good game.

As it stands, Syndicate is a pretty fun experience, but it lacks the innovation and heart that I've come to expect from Starbreeze as a studio.

If you missed out on the Jak and Daxter series when it first debuted or haven't spent any recent time with the games, I'd highly recommend that check out The Jak and Daxter Collection. It's a great set of platformers with a whole lot of content for $40. They look gorgeous on an HD set, and age hasn't deteriorated the gameplay.

Ultimately, Scene It? Movie Night: Mega Movies offers up a competent Scene It? experience at a budget price. If you're a Scene It? veteran, your 800 Microsoft points ($10 USD) basically get you a stand-alone DLC pack with new questions and movie clips. It may not be flashy, but it's more than functional. If you're new to the franchise, however, you're probably better off keeping an eye on Amazon, where the Box Office Smash! bundle (with Big Button controllers) can often be had for less than $15.

Serious Sam 3: BFE is a game worth checking out, especially if you were a fan of old iD Software titles like Doom or Wolfenstein, or the even the Serious Sam series itself. If you're a gamer who's only played modern FPS titles, you'd still do well to see what Serious Sam 3 has to offer. It's more unique nowadays, and it's polished just enough to be an enjoyable experience.

It won't change the opinions of those who despise the series or adore it, but for those on the fence, don't be surprised if you are hooked after a rental.

SSX is a game of two minds. When it sticks to the franchise's old-school, over-the-top snowboarding action, it is one of the most enjoyable games I've played in a while. When it falls into the trap of thinking that I care more about survival instead of pulling off crazy tricks, it loses something.

If you liked the first game, it's pretty hard not to like the second, but if you didn't care for the original, not much here will change your mind.

At its core, Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus is an excellent action game for the new Vita. The main game is still fun, and the combat, while difficult to master, is very satisfying once you've tamed it.

Still, a few minor flaws aren't enough to keep me from recommending The Darkness 2. The single-player portion is tightly structured, and the brutal combat is unbelievably satisfying while still, at its best, providing plenty of options. The well-told story helps this first-person shooter stand out from the crowd. While the co-op multiplayer should really be viewed as a bonus to the game's campaign rather than a major selling point on its own, it's a rather nice bonus to have, and it helps to round out an enjoyable title.

That's really the only complaint that can be levied at this otherwise stellar game, which is a must-buy for fans of the rhythm genre who are looking for their next fix. Rhythm Heaven Fever successfully translates what had previously been a handheld-only series to consoles, and it offers enough fun and challenge to entertain players for hours and hours. This quirky little game may be just the motivation you need to pull your mothballed Wii out of the closet, plug it back in and have an absolute blast.

In the end, Grand Slam Tennis 2 is a solid tennis game that sits below Top Spin 4 in terms of quality. The gameplay mechanics are more simulation than arcade, but it isn't too technical to the point that you need precision to execute moves well. It looks great but flawed, and the same goes for the commentary.

In the end, the only reason to not pick up Happy Action Theater is if you absolutely hate having fun. It's a brilliant little digital toy that will suck up a surprising amount of time. At 800 MSP ($10 USD), it's not going to break the bank, and if you happen to be a parent with little kids, it may be the best investment you make this year.

Neverdead isn't a great game, and that's disappointing. It doesn't take much time with the game to figure out what does and doesn't work, and that makes it all the more baffling that it's not better than it is. The idea of severing limbs and tossing them about and never actually dying is great, but the combat and physics that surround it are downright bad. Neverdead is certainly worth a rental, as you might be able to stomach its shortcomings better than I did. This is a title that you'd play on a rainy day when you have nothing else to do; it's certainly not a game that you must play immediately.

Priced at 1,200 MSP ($15 USD), Scarygirl is on the high end of the impulse purchase range, but still worth the cost. It's one of those select titles that grabs your interest from the start and holds it through the end of the adventure.

There's enough good stuff here to recommend it to genre fans and fans of the previous game.

The game is impressive, and it seems we're on the cusp of something truly special.

All Zombies Must Die could have been a much better game. The level-building RPG elements as well as the weapon-crafting add some much-needed depth to a genre that is usually shoot first, but never ask questions. However, the constant backtracking, repetitive quests and lack of real variety dulls away whatever fun you'll be experiencing. The bad humor and lack of online multiplayer don't help things, either. With so many other zombie-themed twin-stick shooters on the market, it would be best to save this one for future gaming dry spells you have with local friends.

SoulCalibur V, in its current state, only possibly succeeds as a fighting game (admittedly, this goes a very long way), yet already fails as a product. This is the worst scenario for an entry in this series. In one fell swoop, it's cut off most of the gateways people used to become fans of the series in the first place and provides a harsh climate to even the hardcore, who are now the only audience for this game, and that's a downright shame. There's still quality here, but it takes a lot of perseverance to find it.

It's not bad for a game that started as a literal pretender.

The Darkness II proved to be a solid, artistically pleasing twist on demonic possession and dark heroes, and it's one story with mobsters I plan to follow with interest.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an ambitious RPG that mostly delivers on its promise. The main quest is as lengthy as RPGs of yesteryear, while the amount and variety of quests bring an MMO flow to a single-player experience.

Mostly, The Simpsons Arcade Game is a phoned-in port. With so many companies generating improved remakes and ports, it's sad to see that Revolution has chosen to run something so simplistic for a game that hasn't aged very well.

Resident Evil: Revelations is a darn good game. It has nagging flaws and problems that hold it back, but most of those are situations that could have been handled better, not situations that were actively bad. It's a fast-paced, frantic and intense game, and it should be in any Resident Evil fan's library.

As stated before, FIFA Soccer 12 is a solid game for Nintendo's console but only if you haven't played last year's version.

Eufloria is a basic strategy game that can be both frustrating and entertaining. The overall simplicity might not be enticing for more seasoned fans of the genre, and the slow pace will prove maddening to those expecting more action at a faster pace.

The only gripe you can come up with for the Midnight Mountain Ski Pack is that it doesn't add much else aside from the three nighttime courses. There are no new challenges, no new outfits, and no option to toggle day or night settings for the existing challenges.

Choplifter HD is a good - but not great - update to a real classic.

The game has a few flaws here and there, but fewer than most MMOs do at launch and certainly not enough to make the game anything but a highly recommendable MMO title with a significant and enjoyable body of content.