Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - The Crystal Bearer is basically the opposite of traditional Final Fantasy games. Combat is relegated to a puzzle-like minigame, the plot is lighthearted and silly, RPG elements are minimal, and you're never really placed in a challenging situation.

The unfortunate thing about Guitar Hero: Van Halen is that it really had the potential to shine, but there just seemed to be too much working against it. The ongoing band feuds have eliminated not only a large section of the group's catalog, but a founding member as well, and laziness on the part of all parties involved means that there's nearly nothing added to the game to give it the extra content we saw in the Aerosmith and Metallica editions

The unfortunate thing about Guitar Hero: Van Halen is that it really had the potential to shine, but there just seemed to be too much working against it. The ongoing band feuds have eliminated not only a large section of the group's catalog, but a founding member as well, and laziness on the part of all parties involved means that there's nearly nothing added to the game to give it the extra content we saw in the Aerosmith and Metallica editions

It may be a very straightforward journey and it may feel like a knock-off of Sega's Alien Syndrome, but Alien Breed Evolution: Episode 1 is still a darn fun and tense game with redone graphics and well-used sound.

Ultimately, The Saboteur is a refreshing change from the usual WWII hodgepodge because it finally brings open-ended sandbox gameplay to such a historic era.

Rise of the Pirate God does a nice job of closing out this adventure while also setting the stage for the next, but it still manages to fall short of perfection in several key areas.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is a solid, if uninspired, addition to the franchise. Everything's been tightened up a bit from Phantom Hourglass, but not a lot has been done to make the game really stand out.

Zombie Driver isn't a bad game, but given the number of similar games on the market, there isn't really much to recommend it.

Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection is not a bad game. The pinball tables are varied and fun, and there's plenty of historical content for pinball aficionados to pore over. However, this is a port of a GameCube game, and no real changes have been made to the formula. Players will be disappointed that the improvements seen in The Williams Collection aren't here, and only hardcore pinball fanatics who are more forgiving about the title's flaws and shortcomings will find this to be a suitable addition to their pinball video game library.

James Cameron may be a cinematic mastermind, but it's clear that the team who created Avatar: The Game doesn't share his creative genius.

As it stands, James Cameron's Avatar: The Game is a serviceable experience in the world that James Cameron created for the movie, but at the same time, there are enough issues with the controls, camera and combat system to keep it from being great.

MX vs. ATV Reflex shows that Rainbow Studios and THQ still have it when it comes to crafting a good off-road racer.

The fighting engine remains solid, the graphics look awesome for the system, and the sound and controls are excellent.

Konami could easily have saved its reboot of Karaoke Revolution. Redo the graphics to a less creepy style that brings back the energy, keeps the mechanics, and chooses a much stronger song list, and the sequel to this game could be immensely satisfying and bring this series back from the brink. For now, when I want to sing, I'm sticking with EA's Rock Band 2.

If you love the photo puzzle subgenre, this will be a very enjoyable experience for you.

The port's biggest hurdle of overcoming the lack of mouse support seems to be handled pretty well. It doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to Diner Dash, but the gameplay is so addictive and fun that it doesn't really need to.

As is the case for most games like this, only fans should bother giving this one a spin.

Gyromancer manages to present itself as a worthy rival to Puzzle Quest but doesn't quite pack in enough to make it the new favored franchise in the genre

Fans of the original Assassin's Creed will find a lot to love here, but anyone who left the first game feeling unsatisfied will want to rent before they buy.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is a solid sequel to The Umbrella Chronicles, but it's not really much of an improvement

If you're interesting in skating, you have at least a moderate athletic streak, you're willing to put in the training time, and you're looking for a game different than the Wii Sports variety to get you up off the sofa, you'll likely find Tony Hawk: Ride a treat.

In spite of its few faults, Left 4 Dead 2 is a very worthwhile sequel, and any fears you may have about this game merely being an overpriced expansion will melt away as soon as you start playing.

LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues falls short because not only is it a game that no one asked for, but it's also a game that's mostly already been done.

Overall, LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues is a great addition to Traveler's Tales LEGO games and a fun follow-up to first LEGO Indy title.

There's no way around it. If you have a child who's already in love with the movie, that child will want to have The Princess and the Frog on her Nintendo Wii.

As it stands, Disney's The Princess and The Frog is an adventure that's better left on the big screen.

As a whole, Just Dance doesn't work out too well. The graphics may be very spartan and the sound may be fine, but the controls and the gameplay just don't cut it.

It may not break all the rules the way the original did, but this is still a game poised to shake up the handheld market a bit.

The one and only thing that prevents Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! from being an absolute waste is the sheer amount of available categories and the fact that a great deal of them are a lot of fun.

This isn't a perfect fitness game by any means, but it's a viable option to get the family off the couch and keep them in at least decent shape until you can go outside again.

With a few balances and tweaks, we easily could have had an extremely impressive title in the next year or so. As it stands, though, NCAA Basketball 10 is still a solid entry and a good note to go out on.

Codemasters and Sumo put up a valiant effort, but even they can't take more than the Wii gives them, and the Wii simply doesn't provide them enough to work with.

F1 2009 falls squarely into the category of average racer.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii may not be as innovative as Super Mario Bros. or Super Mario Bros. 3, but it stands on its own through pure quality and is easily one of the best Mario titles.

Wedding Dash is a good example of how you can make changes to a core game formula and still have a completely fun experience.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Buzz! Quiz World is the best trivia game on the PS3.

Despite the negative aspects pointed out in this review, 0D Beat Drop really is a solid puzzle game. The mechanics and the gimmick make it a good alternative for puzzle fanatics who are looking for something different from their routine. It's just too bad that the implementation of some of those mechanics wasn't as polished as one would have hoped.

Aside from that, Phantasy Star Zero is a fantastic RPG on the DS and one of the first that's really nailed a lag-free online experience for four players.

Given the care and attention lavished upon the competitive and cooperative multiplayer in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, it's clear that Infinity Ward sees the future of the Modern Warfare series in that particular component. What that means is you'll end up with a game that doesn't show much in the single-player experience, but once you take it online, it's going to be difficult to put down.

As a whole, at least on consoles such as the PS3, Modern Warfare 2 is a thrilling, if not entirely coherent, care package for itchy trigger fingers.

At the end of the day, Dragon Ball: Raging Blast just isn't that good of a game. Despite the rich amount of content present, it doesn't seem to have the amount of polish and playability as Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit — or even some of the earlier entries.

Some fans might be able to look past the issues in Dragon Ball: Raging Blast, but they'll have to work hard at it. For those in desperate need of a DBZ game, a good alternative to Raging Blast would be last year's Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit. It has a better fighting system and, by now, a much lower price tag.

Call of Duty 4: Reflex Edition could have been an amazing game. With a proper port, this could have been a perfect complement to the previous iteration of the title. However, the port job feels like it was cheaply thrown together, and an unfortunately large amount gets lost in translation.

While Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble for the PSP really could have used a few camera controls, its mix of RPG and brawler elements is difficult to fault, even if its release timing may be second only to releasing on Boxing Day. Nonetheless, the game definitely qualifies as nicely shibui and is worth picking up.

For those looking for a Pokémon-like experience on a home console, this is definitely a game worth checking out.

Snowboarding fans, both of the arcade and simulation variety, would do well to pick up this title.

The simplicity of Military Madness: Nectaris may be a turn-off for seasoned veterans of the strategy genre, but it proves to be a great game for those who are just starting to discover this game style.

The gameplay is solid, but some awkward camera issues kept a few platforming elements from performing like they should and offered up far too many blind jumps.

Although Lego Rock Band does lack online multiplayer and the set list isn't nearly as fleshed out as Rock Band 2, it still has some neat little things going for it, mostly stemming from the use of the Lego license.

Ultimately, the title is a good rental, but those who really want to have some fun with cooking should still go with the Cooking Mama series or the book on which this game was based, How to Boil Water, as it is a more satisfying experience.

Overall, We Cheer 2 is a fun rhythm game.

Awful camera movement, less-than-ideal control setups, and some laggy online play prevent this from being a Star Wars title that's worth checking out, even for the hardcore fan community out there. If the series is going to continue its life on handheld systems, it certainly needs to see more of an improvement than this.

Aside from a quick rental, it's not worth it to pick up this title.

If you were hoping to get a decent GTA clone out of C.O.P., prepare to be disappointed. It's a pretty big letdown from the action-packed trailer that was shown at last year's E3, and it certainly doesn't deserve a second glance from most DS owners.

For all its bluster, Dragon Age: Origins comes off as a game that's afraid to take risks. Everything about it, from the combat to the story line, stays very safely within established bounds. After Mass Effect, though, Origins feels like a bit of a step backward.

It might be a joke to hardcore gamers, but Band Hero does an admirable job of playing the right tune for its intended audience.

The driving theme behind Band Hero seems to be an attempt to make it more marketable and friendly to a younger audience. This doesn't necessarily make it a worse game, but it does make it feel extremely different.

Fans of the series, especially younger ones, will be happy with this spin-off as long as they understand that this is ultimately a large track pack in a different package.

Band Hero works well enough on the DS. The core gameplay is good, and the song list is diverse enough that you can play this for a good amount of time before becoming bored.

In the end, Academy of Champions: Soccer is a great arcade-style sports game.

If you're planning on picking up Star Wars: The Force Unleashed — Ultimate Sith Edition, keep in mind that the only brand-spanking-new addition is the inclusion of the Hoth level, and that alone isn't worth spending $40. If you haven't played the game before and you've been waiting for a PC release, then it's probably going to be worth checking out, but keep in mind that you're not really gaining much over the console release with this port.

Overall, Disney's A Christmas Carol is a really solid adventure title on the DS, and while it's not going to stand the test of time compared to other adventure classics, it's a pretty solid way to waste a few hours.

This title is an unoriginal, yawn-inducing experience, and it's next to impossible to draw out any lasting enjoyment.

Gamers looking for their next casual time management fix would do well to find it here.

Chronicles of Mystery: Tree of Life is one of City Interactive's better efforts to date. For adventure fans, Sylvie's continuing escapades are certainly worth checking out.

Overall, Need for Speed: Nitro does what it was set out to do and does it right. It doesn't feel like Shift, instead playing like something made for the Wii audience. It's got its flaws, but it also has a fast, easy-to-pick-up gameplay and just enough depth to be worth a purchase for a wide swath of Wii gamers.

It's worth checking out if you're already a fan, but if you've never tried an adventure game before, this is a pretty solid entry point.

In a nutshell, Rabbids Go Home is an incredibly entertaining game that's almost sure to please ... if you can get past its repetitive nature.

There's really very little to find fault with in The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood. The puzzles are creative, fun and ramp up in difficulty in a nice manner; the script, story and acting are all outstanding, and the entire experience is just fun to play.

Inferno Pool may offer an interesting variant of the main game, but it doesn't do much else to make it a good alternative to fans of the video game representation of the sport.

In spite of a beautiful HD update, Tekken 6 on the PS3 just doesn't hold up as well.

In fact, anyone even remotely interested in fighting games would do well to give this a shot, as the only people who could conceivably be seen staying away from this are those with no interest in fighting games and those who simply dislike the Tekken series already.

While the gameplay can't exactly be hailed as superior to their self-made rival product, the Drawn to Life sequel opens up the imagination in new ways, just as the original did, and the improved storytelling makes it highly worth the while of the young and young-at-heart gamers who are still a core audience of the DS.

In DJ Hero, I really do get the distinct sense that I'm spinning for a full house. This title will appeal to both casual and core gamers alike, with a beginner's mode even toddler children can play fairly well and enjoy.

If you are a hardcore rhythm game player, you will enjoy this title. If you even have a slight preference toward playing any type of rhythm game, all it'll take is one play of a song to make you a fan of this new entry in the ever-growing rhythm genre.

It isn't a perfect game by any means, as there are a few things that it could improve on, specifically in the graphics and damage departments. Nevertheless, all of the title's new features and positive traits outweigh the few negatives and make this the racing game to have.

Altogether, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is easily the best of the three Ratchet and Clank entries on the PS3, and it does a great job of tying up any loose ends established by the Future trilogy.

From interface to basic design, it's marred by numerous game design decisions that simply should not have made it to the finished product.

Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island doesn't really feel like a full-fledged game. It has gameplay elements, but they almost universally feel like mini-games instead of parts of an actual game.

As stated time and time again in this review, it's the young fans of Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks who will get the most enjoyment out of this game.

The adventure feels tedious, and the overall package seems like it doesn't have as much polish as it should in a few areas. Unless you know a young child who's a big fan of the series, it's best to rent this title in order to get your money's worth from the game.

Storm City and Visual Impact managed to take two genres that really can't be screwed up (board and casino games) and merged them into one hot mess with Vegas Party.

The biggest draw is the Nerf gun that comes packaged with it, but surely you can find a nice Nerf gun for the $60 that this game is going to cost you. I'd advise parents and gamers to avoid this one, as you could spend your money on far better Nerf products than this amalgamation.

If you're the kind of gamer who grew up on SNES and PS1 RPGs, then Nostalgia is a welcome trip back to your childhood and is sure to bring forth some fond memories. To gamers without that sense of nostalgia for the older genre, though, the title may be too simplistic and average to really enjoy, especially with so many more exciting and innovative RPGs available on the DS.

Fans of the franchise will need no more encouragement and will enjoy the title immediately upon purchase. For those who are craving some fun gaming in quick bites, this title will suit you nicely.

Panzer General: Allied Assault is not a pretty game to look at. It isn't a sonic masterpiece, either, and the lack of an active community means you have to spend some time with friends or others if you want a multiplayer game to happen. With all of this going against it, one would think that this title is doomed, but the gameplay is more than solid enough for people who love hardcore strategy in any form.

Borderlands is one of the best co-op games on the market. It's fun and easy to pick up, and its unique combination of RPG and FPS elements makes it unlike anything else out there.

The handful of statistical attributes add more of an investment behind every bullet, and when coupled with compelling co-op, Borderlands' seamless take on the FPS/RPG hybrid is sure to keep more than a few wasteland warriors fighting for survival through Pandora's many days and nights.

Tropico 3 is nothing particularly special in concept — it's basically SimCity in a bunch of fictional Cuba-like nations. The historic incidents and your handling of them, combined with small touches like avatars and online functions, make for a fun and distinct experience.

The truly unfortunate thing about Marvel Super Hero Squad is that it's halfway to being a really solid game for kids, but it never manages to make it over the hump.

In short, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo is a good, but not great, brawling platformer.

Either way, Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 is by no means a bad game, but it may be one that's strictly for folks who already schedule their Mondays and Thursdays around the WWE.

FIFA 2010 has outdone its predecessor and taken up the mantle of the greatest soccer game ever made.

It's a fun, quirky little game, but it's the same fun and quirky little game we've been playing for a while now.

Chinatown Wars on the PSP is definitely worth picking up.

This is definitely more geared toward the kids and core fan base than someone like me, so if you're not already a fan, you can safely skip this title without missing anything.

A bad camera and bad controls, however, quickly shoot down this game with little to no hope of it getting better as you progress. For fans of the movie and the character, it would be best to hunt down the GBA game to get their fix. If you don't have a system that can play that, however, your best bet would be to hold off on this and hope that someone will come along and do justice to this revered character.

As cartoon translations to the video game genre go, Secret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5th Sun does a few things wrong, but it does very few things very wrong, and that puts it head and shoulders above some of the other examples of this type of crossover.