It offers gameplay that requires some strategy, and there's enough difficulty in unlocking everything that there's plenty of reason to go back and keep aiming for high scores.

I can't recommend it at its current price point. The car combat is fun for a couple of hours, but everything else is riddled with so many problems.

Stormrise is the perfect example of good ideas not always translating into good games.

For fans who already own SvR 2009, Legends of WrestleMania makes for a great companion piece — or perhaps a replacement.

Overall, Legends of WrestleMania is the best romp through the WWE I've had the pleasure of playing in years.

Wanted is mediocre and too short, and it's only of vague entertainment even for players with prerequisite interests.

Wanted is mediocre and too short, and it's only of vague entertainment even for players with prerequisite interests.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time was clearly made for the DS, and on the DS is where it should have stayed.

If you can get a few friends to play the game with you in a cooperative effort, it's as fun a Crystal Chronicles experience as you'll ever find.

But Monsters vs. Aliens does fulfill its modest promise: provide enjoyable entertainment that's suitable for children and best played with friends or family.

But Monsters vs. Aliens does fulfill its modest promise: provide enjoyable entertainment that's suitable for children and best played with friends or family.

Dark Sector isn't a terrible game. It's just a game that is built around one great idea and surrounded by mediocrity.

The flawed feel of Fallout 3: The Pitt extends beyond the battered, war-weary facade of its buildings, and the rushed, unfinished feel of this particular adventure makes it a painfully disappointing experience.

BattleForge largely succeeds in trying to blend together RTS and card games. It's a fast-paced RTS that really rewards players for being able to adapt quickly in the middle of battle.

As much as it pains me to say it, if you buy The Pitt, then you are essentially giving Bethesda money for nothing. Sure, you get a few more hours of play time in a new city, but nothing here is more substantial or worthwhile than any of the dozens of side-quests included in the original game.

If you are a fan of this game genre and can overlook the shortcomings of the graphics, you'll find that the title is well worth your time.

It's not necessary to have knowledge of the prior games in the series to enjoy Platinum, and it's easily the best version that's currently available.

As a result, it's difficult to recommend Connect 4 at its asking price of $10, unless you have a house with a youngster or two who's bound to spend time dropping the colored pieces into rows of four again and again. Otherwise, resist the pull of nostalgia and wait for this one to go on sale for $5 or less.

As a translation of the board game, Battleship delivers exactly what it promises, along with a little bit more.

I'd definitely suggest Trackmania DS to anyone who was or is a fan of the PC title, and while the developers haven't managed to bring over every single detail to this handheld port, they've managed to really capture the essence of Trackmania to provide a great portable method of getting your fix.

While there's fun to be had here, most people will want to look elsewhere to get their dogfight on.

There's a lot to see in Rune Factory: Frontier, and while the premise might sound a bit boring, it's well worth taking a look at.

If you own a DS, be sure to put Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure on your "must buy" list. It may not have gotten a massive amount of press, but it's sure to rise in popularity thanks to positive word of mouth.

Suikoden Tierkreis manages to feel like a Suikoden game on a handheld, and it deserves respect for that. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like a good Suikoden game.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars manages to bring the GTA formula to the DS in a spectacular way.

The story stuff isn't important, but the gameplay is really solid and well worth checking out.

Basically, Ready 2 Rumble Revolution for the Wii is nearly unplayable. I love the idea of having an arcade boxer on the Wii, and while boxing on Wii Sports didn't exactly blow my socks off, it worked out far better than this game did. I'm not sure that complicated controls for an arcade boxer are the way to go on the Wii, and Ready 2 Rumble proves that more punch types don't necessarily translate into a better boxing experience.

Minor complaints aside, Covenant of the Plume is a fun and unique strategy RPG, and it's a solid addition to any DS owner's RPG library.

If you played RE4 to death like I did, play RE5 on Veteran with a like-minded friend and you'll probably have a blast, but keep in mind it's not as good as its predecessor. The real question about Resident Evil 5, though, is whether or not you'll reach a point with what's happening where you just have to walk away.

Altogether, I came away from Resident Evil 5 feeling pretty impressed, and while the change isn't nearly as radical as it was when Resident Evil 4 was released, it's still a really solid follow-up that keeps everything that worked from the previous title.

Any fun you might have with other people in a multiplayer mode for bragging rights over high scores is completely eliminated by the horrible controls and outdated interface.

This is exactly the game the mature, hardcore Wii crowd has been craving, and it's just too bad that Nintendo is too busy making the next Wii Play, Wii Fit or Wii Music to put more resources into projects like this.

Although it's a solid new IP on the DS, the control issue keeps Avalon Code from being something great. It's still decent and definitely worth checking out for RPG fans, but anyone who's not a big fan of the genre is going to get frustrated with the controls and code system.

This PSP version is a really weak port and definitely isn't the ideal way to experience the game. Pick up the PS2 version instead, and unless you're really dying to play Mana Khemia on the go, avoid this one altogether.

If you've already played it, Soviet Assault isn't enough of a reason to come back.

A must-have for fans of the board game. The promise of future DLC is invigorating and the sheer amount of content out of the box is already impressive enough.

The game is simple to learn, yet lends itself to intense, challenging battles that can really get your adrenaline racing.

The game may be as old as the Wii's predecessor, but New Play Control! Pikmin still remains a very challenging and engaging title. While the graphics haven't held up as well as one would have hoped, the sound and gameplay definitely remain timeless.

The Wii port, New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis, doesn't fare any better now that the product is several years old. Normally, the graphics take the brunt of the criticism but here, it's the control scheme which, by default, makes the game much easier than it should be.

My Pet Shop can certainly surprise you, as it did me, and while it isn't going to be a triple-A quality title, it's still worth a shot.

Watchmen: The End Is Nigh is a fairly mediocre beat-'em-up made special only by the source material from which it drew its inspiration. Playing as Nite Owl and Rorschach is faintly amusing, and the in-jokes, references and cameos are certain to appeal to Watchmen fans, but that is about the extent of its potential.

Watchmen: The End Is Nigh is a fairly mediocre beat-'em-up made special only by the source material from which it drew its inspiration.

Watchmen: The End Is Nigh is a fairly mediocre beat-'em-up made special only by the source material from which it drew its inspiration. Playing as Nite Owl and Rorschach is faintly amusing, and the in-jokes, references and cameos are certain to appeal to Watchmen fans, but that is about the extent of its potential.

Halo Wars is a fun, if unexceptional, real-time strategy title. It does many things right and a few things wrong, but nothing about Halo Wars really stands out except for the fact that it provides a surprisingly solid RTS on a console.

Without having to fight every single battle, finishing one campaign of world domination easily clocks in at over 30 hours. Repeat that with every other playable side, add in the difficulty levels, choose whether to overthrow the crown to declare your empire a republic, replace the AI with multiplayer minds across the world, and your thirst to rewrite the 18th century may prove to be insatiable.

H.A.W.X. is a nice, action-packed distraction with some promise, but if you're squeezed on cash and are still waiting on the next Crimson Skies or Ace Combat, you might want to sign on as a pilot-for-rent instead.

Unfortunately, the execution is so flawed that it is going to take a dedicated player to reach the "fun" hidden within. The controls are awkward and uncomfortable, and the gameplay mechanics are unintuitive. The level design is weak, and the boss fights are simply embarrassing.

In my opinion, it's not enough change to warrant a purchase if you already own We Ski, but if you've played that game to death, I'd at least give this a rental and see if any of the small additions grab you.

The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match is a great example of how to update a good fighting game. The title doesn't make any changes that would drive away old fans of the series, but it makes a few good ones that would entice new fans to give it a try. With a solid package behind it, only the die-hard SNK haters would be resilient enough to turn down this game. It's a great addition to any fighting game fan's library.

If you're a fan of the MLB and are strictly an Xbox 360 owner, then you'll probably find something to like in MLB 2K9; after all, you pretty much have to. Unfortunately, you'll also have to put up with some of the shoddiest fielding AI I've seen in a while, and enough bugs that will cause semi-frequent frustrations with the entire game, including one that I'd consider to be pretty much a game-breaker at this point.

Unfortunately, you'll also have to put up with some of the shoddiest fielding AI I've seen in a while, and enough bugs that will cause semi-frequent frustrations with the entire game, including one that I'd consider to be pretty much a game-breaker at this point.

While Sony has achieved its goal of making the most realistic baseball game to date, they seem to have done so at the expense of one very important thing: fun.

Gamers who have not yet upgraded to the current generation of consoles and pick up MLB 09: The Show for the PS2 can feel confident in a solid, if not excellent, baseball title.

Despite some flaws, I really enjoyed MLB '09: The Show on the PSP.

Phantasy Star Portable is a very interesting entry to the PSP RPG library due to the heavier focus on action. In this regard, it's more like the Monster Hunter series, since the emphasis is on raiding and multiplayer.

The emphasis on the cooking portions makes it an easy title for the kids, though the controls will frustrate them a bit due to the spotty nature of some of the activities.

It's clear that Sony and Guerrilla Games wanted to strike back at the naysayers, and they've done it in the best possible way by delivering a game that exceeds all expectations.

The controls are terrific, and the sound is simply amazing.

The nuggets of genuine hilarity hidden within a few encounters are worth a once-over, but Matt Hazard's reboot should perhaps have been left for a later date.

The nuggets of genuine hilarity hidden within a few encounters are worth a once-over, but Matt Hazard's reboot should perhaps have been left for a later date.

Once you've learned to deal with its quirks, Stoked can be fun. It's a game with a very steep learning curve and a distinct lack of polish around the edges.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand does a good job of alleviating the mistakes of its predecessor thanks to the better controls, great graphics and a foray into co-op.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand does a good job of alleviating the mistakes of its predecessor thanks to the better controls, great graphics and a foray into co-op.

Unfortunately, many of these positive aspects are undone by the game's presentation: bizarre design choices, overly long and deeply uninteresting cut scenes, creepy and off-putting character models and an extremely lackluster dub. It's not a bad RPG; it's simply a mediocre one with a lot of uninteresting filler between enjoyable, if not particularly challenging, gameplay segments.

While EndWar's quirky camera tricks and novel approach to unit selection may very well be functional choices on the X360, they translate very poorly to the PC and create a confusing and chaotic experience that seems to be the precise opposite of what Ubisoft Shanghai was attempting to create.

Retro gamers will likely get more mileage out of Legacy of Ys: Books I & II than anyone who expects this to redefine the way that action RPGs are played on the DS.

The issues with loading and presentation make the predecessor, "Challenge of the Warlords" , the better of the two titles as far as Nintendo DS gamers are concerned. However, the amount of content here in Puzzle Quest: Galactrix and the difficulty of the game make it leagues better than most other titles you'll find on the portable system. Most importantly, while the rules of the main game have changed, the fun and addictive nature still come through.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix does an admirable job of trying to hold your interest for a lengthy puzzle game, but it has a weak story, the AI feels cheap, an aggravating hacking game and the extremely weak multiplayer drag down the experience.

It's a solid localization effort, and there is deep character customization, challenging combat and an entertaining, if riskless, fantasy tale.

What it all comes down to is that it's difficult to recommend Blue Dragon Plus to anyone. Blue Dragon fans will be disappointed by the lackluster story, weak characterization, and total lack of voice acting. RTS fans will be further disappointed by what amounts to a monumentally large step backward in their field of choice, and strategy fans will soon discover that the system prevents the intended actions from taking place.

For a game that tosses so many RTS conventions out the window, Dawn of War II is a surprisingly solid real-time strategy title that pretty much lays down the gauntlet for any game that follows in its wake.

The biggest knock against Death Tank is the price. As one of the more expensive titles on the Xbox Live Arcade service, it provides less than half of the gameplay of R-Type Dimensions.

Although the game has a well-designed and highly customizable driving system, it fails to build upon the gameplay with quality surrounding features, like compelling online play or an extensive career mode.

I'm playing the 360 version, and it's as if this control pad was designed from the ground up to be nearly worthless for this kind of game. There are a handful of other games that have highlighted the 360 controller's awful d-pad, but most of them are using it as a quick-select menu or something. When you're actually trying to input something like a dragon punch motion or any of the EX attacks, it's worse than useless. There is no point in buying SFIV unless you're going to drop the extra money for a better controller.

If you want to buy a good arcade stick or one of the SFIV-compatible control pads coming out for the game, then Street Fighter IV is a lot of fun.

The new characters, weapons and other goodies — like new songs and commentary on the radio, new TV shows and even a brand-new stand-up comedy gig — all make the title well worth the $20 price tag for fans.

Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? is perfect for platformer lovers and Disgaea fans alike. It's loaded with fan service, extremely well-polished, looks and plays good, has subtle depth despite a simple move set, and doesn't punish players for trying out new things with their huge squad of prinnies.

I highly recommend Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride because it's an example of great storytelling, solid gameplay and excellent overall presentation.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon makes for an interesting introduction to the series, but it's going to feel a bit backward to anyone who has played the "older" games in the franchise.

When the burning plume of smoke from the last battle clears, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin's fan service delivers plenty of reasons to sign on with Armacham's best.

A competent, if unexceptional, game. The gameplay is more of an expansion of F.E.A.R. than a full-blown sequel, and unfortunately, the plot and "fear factor" don't quite reach the heights achieved by the first F.E.A.R.

The game has its fair share of flaws, a lot of which I've pointed out in this review, but it's still fun to sit down and waste a few hours with it, and that's exactly what I got out of it.

You'll wind up playing through levels a couple of times past the point when you've unlocked everything - without even knowing there's nothing left to figure out - and it won't be a minute wasted.

Retro Game Challenge is absolutely worth picking up, and I highly suggest it to everyone.

Games normally don't make that kind of mark on us anymore, but nearly every game included in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection does.

Headstrong has blown a breath of fresh air into a series that was toying with stagnation. Not only is Overkill fun to play, but it's also obvious that the developers had fun making it.

It doesn't have very many good qualities, the gameplay isn't very impressive, it isn't up to snuff on a technical level, and whatever charm it manages to muster runs out of steam in a hurry.

As a tech demo, Deadly Creatures is an impressive piece of work, but as a game, it is merely average. For every good idea, there's something that holds back the game and prevents it from really shining.

If it weren't for the M-rated content, X-Blades could have been easily recommended to kids for its accessible action and anime presentation, which is a shame because the adult crowd is going to be left disappointed with this game, despite its sex appeal.

Here's hoping a few things can be cleaned up for a second iteration on the Wii, and I'd definitely suggest that curious fans give Shadow Assassins a try.

Despite the relatively high difficulty level, this is a prime example of old-school gaming at its best.

A surprisingly solid RPG, and one that I think a lot of people will probably miss solely because of the cover art.

Afro Samurai has a ton of style with some nice combat, but once you require the camera to do anything other than sit calmly behind you, the game starts to fall apart.

It is worth checking out, particularly if you're a fan of action games, but don't expect this title to replace your current top spot any time soon.

The loving attention to historical detail comes at a cost of a truly arcane complexity level and rather plodding pace. However, in the right mindset, both quirks can be wonderful things, especially when the complexity also reveals just how deep and varied the mechanics can be.

The way the missions unfold within the VR exercise really gives you a sense that you're playing a game that isn't Fallout, yet it's using the exact same engine.

The way the missions unfold within the VR exercise really gives you a sense that you're playing a game that isn't Fallout, yet it's using the exact same engine.

MLB Front Office Manager was a good opportunity for console gamers to experience the joys and hardships of a standard MLB general manager. Unfortunately, with a very cumbersome menu system and nothing else to make it exciting, the title becomes a boring mess.