Half-Minute Hero is a stunning example of why all games don’t have to follow the same rules, but, even with as much as I loved playing it, I'm well aware of its limited appeal.

Hats off to 4A Games on a job well done.

There's plenty of improvement from Bioware here, but more importantly the story continues and it's still a fun ride. If you liked the first then you'll like the expansion pack.

Final Fight: Double Impact does a great job of revitalizing two classics and making them relevant and enjoyable all over again with remastered visuals, audio, and the inclusion of online play.

No matter your origins, you owe it to yourself to at least give this one a shot (or, more accurately, several thousand).

High Moon Studios did a great job with Transformers, finally bringing gamers a vision of Cybertron and its popular inhabitants that we've long wanted to see. Both the campaigns and multiplayer sides offer a lot, making the total package impressive and one I happily recommend.

The Sims 3 for PS3 is the first of its kind: a fully-featured translation of the hit PC series to the console. It isn't without some occasional gameplay snags-load times, laggy menus, and the like-but that's all overlookable in context with the accomplishments seen here.

Gamers wanted a boxing game that was close to the actual sport and EA has delivered.

Much like the original SHIFT, SHIFT 2: Unleashed does a great job of being that hardcore sim that's not too hardcore for the more casual, arcade racer to get into. It's a perfect bridge between something like NFS: Hot Pursuit and Forza.

Brink embodies everything that people thought online play would be on a console. You've got solid leveling up system that adds another layer of depth to a game that didn't need it, as Splash Damage could have just dialed it in and created just another first-person shooter. With that said, if you get the right team together and you understand your task when you play online then you're going to find Brink to be a very rich experience.

Overall, while I still have a lot of WKC2 ahead of me, and more online to partake in, WKC2 has done something for me that many JRPGs have not been able to: it's kept me playing and pleasantly entertained.

It's literally Crysis on a console, which, as simple and silly as it sounds, is more than most expected.

The original Splinter Cell games are classic, and it's nice to see Ubisoft give them the HD treatment. While not as complete as I was hoping for, this Trilogy is still a great addition addition to your collection.

Kirby's Return to Dreamland is the game die-hard fans have been waiting for for years. Though recent bouts have found the series moving in more of an experimental direction, the traditional Kirby game is what gamers will always want the series to revert back to.

Skylanders is a good game made wholly better by a great gaming experience that is provided by the Portal of Power and the figures. Enjoyable for all ages, you would be hard pressed to find a more engaging, better-produced family friendly game this holiday.

Mario Kart 7 is a strong follow-up in a series which has long straddled the line between mass-appeal shoo-in and nod to the nostalgia. It doesn't take many risks, but that rarely hurts it apart from a general lack of surprises and a disappointing presence of blue turtle shells. Regardless, it's an attractive, addictive, and accessible installment with some of the best online play we've seen to date coming from Nintendo. Don't expect to be surprised, but buy with confidence all the same.

Trine 2 thrives on its ability to properly behave in a solo or cooperative environment, but it will undoubtedly be remembered for its breathtaking art direction.

Sonic CD's obtuse level design and time travel gimmick remain as divisive as ever, but for $5 it's easy to pull the trigger for fans and newcomers alike.

Project Soul got a lot right with SCV, and I enjoy it, I just wish there were more content, specifically more offline modes of play. I find myself bouncing back and forth between offline and online play, slowly becoming content and fatigued with both.

Ultimately while this theme of epic revenge may ring familiar, CyberConnect2 has done an excellent job with their specific story details and in how they present it. Asura's Wrath is maybe just a little bit too hands off for my tastes, but I had an absolute blast from start to finish.

An impressive, feature-rich port of the best soccer game out there.

Quite possibly the best value on the Vita right now. This is a neat, fun platforming adventure at a great price.

Capcom and Pipeworks did a great job with this HD Collection and it shouldn't be missed by anyone who enjoys third person action.

I think that the game, for the most part, is a blast. The PC transfer was a bit rough and it needs some help (patches/updates), but as-is, it's pretty solid. It's got enough proper action and adventure to keep you occupied for a large amount of hours. It may not be Skyrim or Kingdom of Amalur hours, but it will be enough for you to be satisfied with the purchase.

This game is very good. A 10-12 hour campaign, that can all be played cooperatively, is supported by a good handful of multiplayer offerings. The "story" seems relative and sets the stage for a great experience, even with it being a bit repetitive.

Amidst an important layer of absurdity brought to you by the likes of Suda51, James Gunn, and Jimmy Urine, Lollipop Chainsaw has a lot in common with the delightful 8-bit games of my youth.

An impressive follow-up to 2010's Lords of Shadow that you shouldn't miss.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a solid pick for anyone that has yet to try Capcom's open world RPG.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is most certainly a unique experience with its beautifully hand drawn environments and visual perfection. If you're an action fan and you don't mind fairly repetitive gameplay, Muramasa is one of the most beautiful games you'll ever play.

It feels like an integral piece in the burgeoning Dead Space mythos, and it does for the light gun genre what the original did for its survival/horror brethren; while it's not particularly original, it remains wonderfully engaging, masterfully executed, and, despite its brevity, a great deal of fun.

No More Heroes 2 has some minor shortcomings and a few unnecessary quirks in the gameplay, but to its credit, it is not a button masher and it is not a waggle fest. The interesting and well-developed boss characters at least attempt to force you to make a lot of in-the-heat-of-moment adjustments to your game plan.

Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days is technically impressive and filled to the brim with content, but it's considerably massive length stretches both of those features a little too far for comfort.

Time will never be kind to graphics, but enduring gameplay is rarely forgotten, and in that regard Nier's going to wind up as one of those "hidden gems" you always wish you would have played. Do yourself a favor and snag it early.

2K10 makes some great strides in presentation this year with fewer changes in gameplay.

Tornado Outbreak is fun, simple and one helluva ride.

Although it's merely a minor update over its Xbox 360 counterpart, any jRPG nut will be quick to testify to the importance of Japanese voice acting in a Japanese game. The other very minor improvements-namely, the entire game on a single disc and the option for a differently-styled HUD-aren't much to talk about, but all in all, if you've been considering giving The Last Hope a try, this is the definitive version.

Buzz! Quiz World is a nice step up from the already proven Buzz! Quiz TV and should appeal to fans of the series and attract newcomers alike.

The best part about Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is that it's a lot of fun.

MAG is an impressive technical feat wrapped around a solid multiplayer FPS title.

I think anyone who enjoys the older 2D RPGs from years ago will quickly fall in love with 3D Dot Game Heroes.

The peculiar art direction never grows old, and does well to amuse anyone contending with Winterbottom's resilient challenge. Not for the faint of heart, but a great game never the less.

No Borderlands fan should be without The Secret Armory of General Knoxx.

With all of that said, the game is still worth the $59.99 that you are going to pay for it. It has a load of fun sitting there that outweighs the enormous loading time. Frightfully, this game is good offline and even better online.

It's not Raven's best game, but it does very well for itself. I have no problem recommending this to any FPS gamer out there.

Deathspank isn't revolutionary, but it is fun.

While its implementation of the 2-D/3-D hybrid perspective and basic controls work well, far more tampering has occurred here, and much of it for the worse.

Though the game's identity seems to be caught somewhere between a demo on steroids and a pint-sized full game, Dead Rising 2: Case Zero finds the perfect balance with its immensely cheap price tag with a surprisingly large amount of content.

As a unique and engaging tactical RPG experience, Valkyria Chronicles II reminds us a little innovation, a little refinement, and a few good ideas can go a long way in unsouring a genre.

Cladun is a love letter to gamers who spend hours on forums bitching about how technology has ruined role playing games for the last fifteen years. For once, they're right; a retro style doesn't go hand in hand with disappointment after the pangs of nostalgia inevitably settle.

This is a great pick up for your Nintendo DS, regardless if you liked or disliked the console version.

Presented in a gloriously isometric manner, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light doesn't need Lara Croft – it creates a big time, engaging action action-adventure experience that stands on its own merits.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is a huge achievement over previous years. Konami's developers have seemed to have locked down a solid method to make a really good soccer game.

Through its newfound cohesive game structure and intuitive, serviceable gameplay mechanics, Brotherhood's assets outweigh its occasionally annoying design quirks.

Your Shape Fitness Evolved is the best workout game to date and an excellent choice for Kinect owners this holiday.

A very respectable port to the iPad gives the platform perhaps its most impressive game. Veterans and newcomers of Chinatown Wars should take note.

Newcomers to the series might want to start their Dragon Quest experience with IV, V, or IX but for fans or those who are looking for more Zenethian adventures, Realms of Revelation is a lengthy addition to the DS's Dragon Quest lineup.

In either case Okamiden is a great game, and surely one of the last must-own titles on a legendary system.

Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition is most certainly the strongest launch title of the bunch. With console-mimicking portable gameplay, strong online functionality, and an addictive figurine collection mode, this game utilizes most of the 3DS's many capabilities. Sure, it may not be the pure fighter that some may be looking for but as a handheld fighter, you'd be hard pressed to find a better experience.

Brink is a game that provides massive amounts of customization for its gamers, including some unbelievably fun abilities. If you can excuse some of its offline play and lack of NPC A.I., then you'll find a game that encourages friends to come together online to share a deep and fulfilling team-oriented experience. Brink is a perfect example of how an online experience should feel and play out.

An accessible and fun dungeon crawling romp, with or without friends.

Street Fighter III Third Strike Online Edition is the best of the recently released Street Fighter games for PSN and Xbox Live. It maintains everything that made the original great, plus it adds solid online play and great depth with trials and challenges. It's definitely worth any hardcore Street Fighter fan's time and money.

Madden NFL 12 doesn't break a 90-yard run past Madden NFL 11, but it does make sure that the route it runs is tighter and a lot more fun. With a deeper Franchise mode, a great online community option and better AI and collision, Madden NFL 12 offers a well-rounded football experience.

This is what arcade racing/driving is all about.

Rise of Nightmares has been a refreshing experience for me, reminding me that motion gaming can work great when developers put forth a complete effort that encompasses a solid story and smart use of motion control.

While RAGE does have some issues here and there you can rest assure that it does deliver in the end. It has a solid mix of good first-person shooting action, fun driving moments, and solid multiplayer modes. Add to all of this the fact that you're seeing one of the more gorgeous games produced in this generation, and it's a tough deal to pass up.

The fun of co-oping through Middle Earth with three unique characters overshadows some of the game's shortcomings, making for a very enjoyable game that I'm happy to recommend.

An excellent game for $40, but in the back of your mind you can't help but wonder if we'll hear about a third MvC3 in a few months... that said, for the money, you'd be hard pressed to find a more complete and thrilling fighting game.

Shank 2 isn't so much a sequel as it is a replacement for its slower, sloppier predecessor, and that seems to suit its style just fine.

A superb game no matter how you -- or Ryu Hayabusa -- slices it.

At the end of the run, very solid venture.

This is a complete and very nicely done port of a really great fighting game.

Well beyond a simple mash-up, Street Fighter X Tekken impressed me with its ability to simultaneously cater to both the casual and hardcore. New players could have enough fun executing basic moves and playing around with gems while the elite could devour every inch of the Cross Gauge in their pursuit of mechanical perfection. While bridge linking casual to hardcore remains unstable the conduit responsible for channeling Tekken into Street Fighter's visage is surprisingly sound. From the perspective of a Tekken fan, that's all pretty impressive.

An accessible, rewarding, deep, and fun JRPG that has a lot to offer to veteran Tales fans and newcomers alike.

Capcom enters the open world fantasy RPG genre with a compelling release whose strengths outweigh its flaws.

Starved for Help continues to explore the moral ambiguity of a post-society world, albeit focusing more on the human threat this time around. There is a narrow margin between right and wrong, and forcing the player to genuinely question what to do or how to act in virtual environment is a remarkable accomplishment.

Leviathan is Mass Effect 3 with a touch of X-Files' atmosphere and LA Noire's investigations. What's not broken (or broken, depending on your point of view) hasn't been fixed, and the new narrative and gameplay angles are welcomed and unobtrusive. After a couple of pedestrian post-release offerings, Leviathan feels like a confident return to form, and it boasts one hell of a payoff for Mass Effect's greater narrative.

Around Every Corner finest asset may be also its least conspicuous; three second vignettes proceeding a horrific events. The rule of thirds is applied, deliberate lighting techniques are employed, and each scene is framed exceptionally well. In each case it's a still shot, but it might as well be a soliloquy. These are Around Every Corner's signature moments, and witnessing them is your fateful pleasure. Beyond that the narrative doesn't move quite as much as in previous episodes, but it's tough to say The Walking Dead spinning its wheels in lieu of a grand finale.

Doom veteran or newcomer, the BFG Edition is a superb addition to any collection.

The Wii U port of NFS Most Wanted was done with care and it shows.

I haven't been pleased with the PGA TOUR gameplay for a few years now, but I'm back on board with 14.

Razor's Edge mixes up tradition in the Ninja Gaiden franchise enough to make it a worthy purchase. A great story (even with action cliches), gameplay improvements, more dismemberments, and online modes. Problems with the camera, glitches, and invisible walls still plague the series. At $40, there is plenty of value to consider this worthwhile.

The Knife of Dunwall grabs hold of one of Dishonored’s more provocative threads and handles it with impressive respect and grace. In a perfect world this would lead countless one-off stories indulging in Dishonored’s intricate universe, but as a single piece of content its best viewed as a glimpse of its lingering potential. The Knife of Dunwall keeps Dishonored’s spirit right place, it’s just not finished yet.

What it does is haphazardly simulate the thrill of ripping a man's heart out of his chest and replacing it with another one under the most ridiculous circumstances possible. It’s a joke of a game, sure, but for once the player gets to be in on it.

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is a great addition to the recently strong lineup of 3DS titles out there. As a downloadable title, it's extremely accessible and at only $9.99, it's also extremely affordable. Considering this game has all the meat of a regularly priced title at a quarter of the price, it would be hard for any puzzle fan to pass this title up.

A solid, true sequel to Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light has some flaws, but they're over-matched by the positives that make Last Light an excellent FPS experience.

Mytran Wars is a solid turn based title that has a whole lot to offer.

Rabbids Go Home is a strong recovery for the Rabbids franchise, shying away from the mini game conglomerations we've been accustomed to and bringing an entirely new adventure to the table featuring these misunderstood creatures.

As for the gameplay, it's essentially the same, but improvements with weapons and plasmids makes it a little deeper. The addition of multiplayer just ices this cake and gives you a little more reason to add Bioshock 2 to your library.

If you love turntables, you love scratching and you love hearing music from different generations cleverly mixed together to create a unique beat then you'll just fall in love with DJ Hero.

You get all aspects of what it's like being a fighter pilot. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is one of the best games I've played in a while and I'll keep playing it well beyond this review.

I think Valve and EA have stepped the game up in the sequel. I really believe they fully understand the value of players going online and playing the game with and against each other.

Skate 3 takes a great game in Skate 2 and brings it to the next level. If you're looking for a great skateboarding game, look no further.

LittleBigPlanet's trip to the PSP was a faithful transition.

In all seriousness, MLB 10: The Show takes baseball fans somewhere they were dying to go and does it in such style. Everything about this game screams perfect, but it all depends on what type of baseball fan you are and how much patience you're willing to give.

W!Games has a fantastic turn based title on their hands that I'd recommend to casual and hardcore fans of the genre alike.

Fat Princess was a ballsy choice to pack into Sony's handheld, but Fistful of Cake doesn't disappoint in its attempt to emulate big brother.

The Trials of St. Lucia is a robust and very worthwhile DLC release for a great game. If you are into challenge arenas, you couldn't ask more.

Despite some parts of the game being more simplistic overall, the exploration of the catacombs is far more enthralling than the over world from Challenge of the Warlords.

With achievements, goals and a goofy storyline there's so much to love about Risk: Factions.

While it is certainly geared towards a younger audience, there's plenty of adventure here to be had by all ages.

At its core, Scott Pilgrim is still just an upgraded version River City Ransom, but its polish and sense of style aims to keep players engaged, nostalgic, and smiling. Never trying to do more than it sets out to do, the game offers a fine balance of presentation and gameplay mechanics.

Atelier Rororna should appeal to series fans and newcomers alike. Gust did a fine job with this game and it's well worth your consideration if you're in the market for a solid JRPG.

Saying it's the most fun I've had in a Sonic game in 15 years isn't actually saying a whole lot, but it's certainly a great start.

If you have the PlayStation Move, you need The Shoot. It's a great, fun addition to the genre and makes good use of the Move controller.

While Call of Duty: Black Ops isn't without flaws it does still maintain that core Call of Duty goodness that we've all come to love from the game.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is mostly what we were waiting for in a sequel to the classic original titles. With just about everything you can expect from the series brought over onto the DS, this game features the high production values and classic jRPG gameplay coupled with the rewarding puzzles and unique Djinn battle system.

The game is very accessible and is also addictive and rewarding enough to keep you going.

This is an excellent release for the PSP. Two classic JRPGs re-mastered and made available in a single, well-priced package. Fans of Ys or the genre can't go wrong in picking this up.

Given the content and the price, I feel comfortable recommending this to previous players and newcomers alike.

Child of Eden is a visually stunning game. Prepare to be immersed into a 3D world that you can control and protect - all with the power of multi-sensory gestures, using your hands.

Fallout's modern interpretation may have started to show its wrinkles, but Old World Blues remedies an aging formula by resurrecting the series' latent dark humor and pushing it in the spotlight.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a far cry from revolutionary (though it hardly seeks to be), and it's too linear and shallow an adventure for a game banking on the appeal of Metroid. Nevertheless, it's a tasty hors d'oeuvre that teases with sheer beauty and some clever gameplay concepts in the later areas. Its appeal is greater than the sum of its parts, even if it does leave you wanting more.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a work of surprising confidence. Combat that favors leveling up the player's, not that avatar's, skill set is worthy of admiration, as is a wildly imaginative, frenzied art department that never allows their beautiful work to overstay its welcome.

Ms. Splosion Man is frequently good with equal parts brilliance and frustration. Sometimes you might get the feeling that the folks at Twisted Pixel had so much fun making their game they sort of forgot we common folk would wind up playing it, but it's hard to fault ambition.

While not a massive step forward for the series, FIFA Soccer 12 manages to add a few interesting features and maintain the series' top spot in the genre.

R&C: A4O almost delivers a great single player and multiplayer experience, but falls a little short. Neither mode is outstanding, but the multiplayer mode is a lot of fun (especially with local friends) and the single player mode is pretty cool on its own.

Syndicate's guise is thoroughly unoriginal and yet irrefutably stylish. Its guns aren't distinctive but feel great with every pull of the trigger. Breaching is debatably necessary and still every time it's engaged. Cooperative plays feels more like beating the game than beating the intended challenge, which somehow makes for a better feeling of elation. In conforming to the first person standard, Syndicate has turned in a wave of contradictions that, almost in spite of itself, typically emerge on the right side of social order.

This is a polished and proven fighter that still has a lot left in the tank.

While Dawnguard probably could have contained a bit more for its $20 price tag, most gamers who have dedicated months of their lives to playing this game will not be disappointed with their purchase. For the time being, I'm hooked again, and that means I'm probably going to have to go pay off my ridiculously high bounty in Whiterun.

NCAA Football 13 doesn't bring anything groundbreaking to the franchise, but it does make some much needed improvements. Better AI, more QB animation, sharper receiver reaction and the addition of the Reaction Time mechanic make this a fun and interesting NCAA Football release. It definitely isn't a leap from last year's game, but it's a step up.

As to be expected, this is the top DOA to date.

A much different Silent Hill game than the norm, which will infuriate some but intrigue others, myself included. Series veteran or not, every Vita owner should at least try the demo.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed respects and reproduces its source material with such precision that it'll leave Sega fans desperately clinging to the foolish belief that we'll get proper Nights or Burning Rangers sequels one day. On its own merits Transformed is a competent racer with a great drift mechanic, and the dynamically shifting carts and tracks are a solid contribution to an otherwise homogenous genre.

For all its similarities, Nintendo Land is a wholly different experience from the Wii and Wii Sports-and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. While the presentation and concepts still exude a casual shell, the real meat of the experience is deceptively deep and unmistakably challenging. It's no "killer app" launch title, but it's no slouch, either.

If you're looking for a strong follow-up from the Crysis 2 storyline then you're going to be heaven. Crytek brings a very powerful story that fits just right with the previous titles and compliments it with a fast-paced gameplay experience. Sure the campaign might last 6-8 hours, but you'll enjoy every minute of it.

The Capcom Arcade Cabinet is a premium way to enjoy Capcom arcade classics. While the price might not be readily accepted with the younger generation of gamers that missed the arcade heyday, the package certainly brings enough new features (like online play and leaderboards) to get any gamer excited.

If you are a huge fan of Skyrim and have been looking for a good reason to get back into it for a few hours, then look no further. Although it probably could have contained a bit more for its $20 price tag, most gamers who have dedicated months of their life to playing this game will not be disappointed with their purchase.

Vergil's Downfall is worth playing through if you enjoyed DmC at all, and you could do a lot worse with $9.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate makes for a very solid gaming experience. The game offers up so much to do and see through a massive amount of quests, crafting elements, customizations and a compelling online mode. Prepare your day-to-day schedules accordingly for this one, but please be mindful of the control issues the game tends to have.

In and of itself, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity is a fun experience that big-time Pokemon fans (especially younger ones) should enjoy. As a first-time Mystery Dungeon player, I can also recommend the game to anyone who might be on the fence about jumping in and exploring some dungeons. Not everyone will enjoy it, mind you, because it’s not the Pokemon they know and love.

It’s not the Gran Turismo you’re used to, but it’s well tuned for on-the-go gaming.

Throw out your preconceptions and give MySims Agents a chance; you might be surprised.

Forgiving the tedious side-quests, aggravating random battles, and cliché cast and storyline, Nostalgia is actually a fairly solid role-playing title. If it weren’t so tragically constrained by its decades-old allegiances, however, it could have been much more than that.

Apart from food, clothing, bills, medical care, transportation, art supplies, or a donation to a cause of your choice, I can't think of a much better way to spend $15 this month.

Axel & Pixel may be short, but it grants a feeling not often found in Live Arcade titles; when was the last time you pressed all way through a game because of its charm?

All Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing had to do was not be completely terrible, but Sumo Digital ignored Sonic's awful racing pedigree and produced a pretty darn good kart racer.

Lunar is the videogame equivalent of a summer vacation. It's free of complication, full of careless fun, over before you know it, and easily lends itself to nostalgia.

Lost Planet 2 is better by leaps and bounds from the original. Still, there is room for improvement, especially in a more cohesive storyline.

In an age when design risks are often squashed by budget concerns, Zeno Clash is a runaway success. There is literally nothing else like it.

This is a nice DLC pack to finish out this standout game from over a year ago. If you didn't like the game to begin with, nothing in this DLC will change that. On the same token, if you enjoy Borderlands, this game may feel a bit too familiar, but it's enjoyable nevertheless.

The Writer is a much more confident and focused piece of content than The Signal. Above all else, it solves the problem of creating a canonical piece of post-game content that's neither required nor unnecessary. Not quite essential, but hardly regrettable either.

By effectively clinging on to the Halloween aesthetic from beginning to end, Costume Quest evokes the often forgotten nostalgia of childhood. It manages to create a fantastical world without resorting to high fantasy. As something that both kids and adults can relate to, Costume Quest is a heartfelt reminder that with the right viewpoint, everything can be awesome.

Pinball tables started dying out just as crazy features like holograms and missions were taking hold. Their dissolution was disappointing, but Marvel Pinball feels like a successor in the classic lineage of great tables.

Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem is another strong puzzle game in the MVs.DK series.

Two Worlds II is a solid open world RPG that has enough good going for it to overshadow its issues. Had it a little more time in development for polish and tweaks, it could have been outstanding, but as it stands I think it's still a great game that I'm happy to recommend.

People Can Fly and Epic Games, seemingly bored with the state of first person shooters, have cranked out one of the most objectively offensive titles in recent memory, but pulled a fast one by backing it up with clever, fresh and addicting mechanics wholly absent in every one of its peers.

No matter what mode you play, KZ3 looks great. I don't have a 3DTV to test the 3D mode on, but your eyes and ears are in for a visual treat nonetheless.

If you're looking for a change in your MMO diet then you might try a bite of RIFT. It might not be more satisfying than WoW, FFXI or other MMOs, but it certainly has potential depending on Trion's future plans with it.

It's not a brand new game, but it's a cool enough spin on the old one to merit reasonable interest.

MLB 11: The Show is what you might call a predictable update from last year's offering on the PSP. The same, solid core experience is there with only very minor changes and additions.

SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs still maintains its hard-nosed action reputation that it has always been known for. While it isn't a huge leap from its predecessors, it's still a fun leap in the right direction.

Style and substance creates a very solid game. The core platform mechanics are right up there with the best, and the added element of switching between "hot" and "cold" creates just that much more frustration and fun. The different but pleasing visual presentation with a good library of dependable sounds fleshes out the strong gameplay foundation quite well. Download the trial and if your first impression is positive, the 800 MS Points will be well spent.

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean is a refreshing reboot, at least in my mind, to an ailing, overused franchise. Packed with adventure, excitement and just about everything you would expect from a Pirates' film, Disney Interactive Studios and their developers hit a home run with this release.

Gatling Gears is simple, fun and visually appealing. It's not perfect or incredibly deep, but it serves its intended purpose of frivolous, non-stop action.

Sega has produced a better game with Virtua Tennis 4. With the added depth to the career mode and solid motion control support, you're getting a good tennis title. While it's not perfect, Sega appears to be guiding this tennis franchise in the right direction now.

It's clear that Day 1 wanted to appeal to FEAR fans but also break the mold. As evident from the back of the box to the addition of co-op play to the team modes in multiplayer, they set out to make FEAR a more team game than ever before. I think they've succeeded in doing so, but at the cost of a solid single player campaign and the real sense of fear that more or less originally defined the series.

Charles Schulz probably never illustrated any happy Cloud Whales, but if he did they would probably look like Okabu's chief protagonists. With bright colors and a merry atmosphere flooding positivity and joy through every channel, it's hard to look away. This wouldn't matter much if Okabu's gameplay wasn't up to spec, but the subtle complexity behind the puzzles and variety of objectives serves the theme well - and makes Okabu's handful of technical gaffs all the more disappointing.

InFamous: Festival of Blood succeeds as a ghoulish costume for InFamous 2.

The good news is Daytona USA's port is actually better than you remember. The bad is, despite some inspired extras, it doesn't last that long.

Fans might have preferred compilation of Sonic's 16-bit greatest hits, but a career-spanning retrospective is what ended up on the track list. And you know what? Against all odds, Sonic Generations feels adequate.

Ace Combat flies onto the 3DS in impressive fashion. Worth checking out for series fans and anyone that likes aerial combat.

Clawing its way back to relevance, XIII-2 introduces a heap of new and desirable systems into XIII's familiar architecture, and even though some of them are handled rather clumsily, the final product is ultimately better off.

Alan Wake's American Nightmare is Alan Wake with the benefit of proper editing and revision.

Call it a movie-game if you must, but The Amazing Spider-Man is a standout superhero game that is accessible, fun, and pretty addictive.

The folks at 24 Carat Games apparently spent their nights dreaming of slamming Guitar Hero against a side scrolling shoot 'em up because that's exactly what they ended up making with Retro/Grade. And it's delicious.

At the end of the day, $7.99 for this game is an absolute steal! There's a tremendous amount of upside to it with little to dislike.

Ultimately, while it's a great game nonetheless, its failure to innovate keeps it from true excellence.

I was taken by surprise with War on Cybertron and how well that turned out. And, honestly, I think Activision and High Moon probably felt the same way. The gameplay was steady and the multiplayer was just really fun. This sequel carries on that favorable edge.

Pokémon is as complex as it's ever been but still extremely accessible to those who want to play for the first time. With Black 2 & White 2, Game Freak has actually created an entirely new story to accompany its usual 3rd (and 4th) installment to generation 5. Unfortunately, the story feels like a less enthralling narrative than the original installments.

Pokémon is as complex as it's ever been but still extremely accessible to those who want to play for the first time. With Black 2 & White 2, Game Freak has actually created an entirely new story to accompany its usual 3rd (and 4th) installment to generation 5. Unfortunately, the story feels like a less enthralling narrative than the original installments.

Retro City Rampage is a war between my heart and my head. It encapsulates countless tropes and references deemed special or significant by Nintendo-fueled 80's youth, but when Retro City Rampage gets down to business, when it's forced to operate in medium it so openly adores, it behaves as erratically as games from decade's past.

While it has its share of bugs and is qualitatively a mere expansion of the original in many ways, Skylanders Giants is still a full-blown sequel, featuring more Skylanders, more in-game collectibles, and larger and arguably more robust levels (albeit fewer) than the original. If more Skylanders is what you're after, this is what you've been looking for.

Inside Line is another solid offering from Eutechnyx. The good foundation laid with 2011 translates to this title, and the same great core gameplay mechanics are back. Improvements to the Career mode are the biggest contribution to the series, and helps make this a decent step forward.

A strong core soccer sim offering with some neat Wii U Gamepad features make FIFA 13 one to think about this holiday, although you may want to see if the online community grows after the Wii U launch in Europe later this month if you expect to play online.

Even with trial and error style gameplay falling out of style, Hitman: Absolution makes absorbing and learning every last detail attractive and engaging. This point of entry is technically more flawed, but it's potentially more interesting for skilled and patient players. You try, you fail, and in time you maniacally celebrate the payoff when it all finally falls into place. It's easy to forgive Absolution's flaws when that process works so well.

Despite the wait time to get the games going with real players, if you've never had the pleasure of playing a MOBA, then let Guardians of Middle-earth be your first. It has all the fast-paced insanity that comes with the genre, a wealthy amount of options for loadouts, and a nice dash of Lord of the Rings personalities and species to boot.

Storm Legion provides more life and depth to the world of RIFT, which it needed badly. Bringing more souls, quests, dungeons and lands can only help RIFT possibly become the 'other' MMO option when finding an alternative to World of Warcraft.

It's too easy to see where Anarchy Reigns could have been better. Games are made within a budget and Anarchy Reigns' surely wasn't much, but you have to admire the purity of its intentions. In a perfect world it would have a Call of Duty 2-like impact and birthed refined successors, but as it stands Anarchy Reigns is an enjoyable oddity pleading for an elegant sequel.

An awful story is salvaged and ameliorated through exceptional combat design and an engaging weapon creation system - leaving Dead Space 3 weaker than its predecessors, but still an experience absolutely worth having.

Ultimately, there are more reasons to praise and play LCU than not, especially for Wii U owners looking for something new and exclusive that doesn't involve a Nintendo icon.

Katamari Forever doesn't try too many new things with this first PS3 version, but the old formula still works well. That said, I'd recommend this to newcomers and series veterans alike.

All things considered, World Stage is better than its predecessor in nearly every way—but it’s also a year later now, and the improvements, while palpable, are still marginal.

Unless you fall squarely within the niche targeted by Band Hero's formula, you'll likely find that, primarily thanks to the musical selections, the experience is lacking the same sense of authenticity and grandeur typical of its pedigree.

With such a strong concept, it could have been one of the better games of the decade. However, the lack of polished execution has led to merely an incredible concept wrapped inside a shell of control issues that make it difficult to enjoy.

While not a *huge* upgrade from NBA 09, NBA 10: The Inside is still well worth a look for the NBA fan on the go.

While lacking a few key wanted features (new level cap and weapons), Zombie Island still brings enough to the table to make a solid first expansion.

Polar Panic is a charming PSN game that shows how much you can get from a simple puzzle concept.

Having reviewed plenty of AC titles in the past, I have found Armored Core: Silent Line as something refreshing and refined. There's plenty to love about this game, but the difficulty may turn gamers off.

Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love is a great niche release if you're into Japanese games that are heavy on anime, SRPG, and dating. For those gamers, they will find a polished, if not perfect, localized title with a lot of content and reason to comeback.

R.U.S.E. is a good game that has some flaws. The one thing that Ubisoft and the devs were counting on to entertain (the R.U.S.E. option) pays off really well in the end. The rest of the gameplay elements aren't overly different from what we've seen before in an RTS, which makes R.U.S.E. simply good and not great.

Thongs of Virtue is the second half of Deathspank. Billing this as a sequel is a bit disingenuous, but thankfully Deathspank's structure was quite good to begin with, and the humorous presentation remains delightfully distinctive.

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures is worth a look, but only if you have young gamers in your household.

Oath in Felghana is easily consumed without feeling disposable.

Overall a very good initial offering from Eutechnyx. Their Euro background definitely doesn't seem to be a handicap as they were able to translate the "feel" of driving one of these big, heavy cars to a rather effective degree.

Duke Nukem fans, this game is for you. The campaign features nice balance and many of the same elements that have since come to define the DN experience. The presentation could be better, and the "loading checkpoints" is a chore to deal with and definitely interrupts the flow. Online, while simple, offers an incredibly fun experience that can be hard to put down.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked is a strong addition to the current lackluster 3DS lineup. Though it isn't truly a 3DS remake that utilizes all of the systems capabilities (including a very small amount of 3D), it does feature polished graphics, the addition of voice acting, and a new scenario to add to the multiple endings from the original version of the game.

Star Fox 64 3D is a solid remake of the original Nintendo 64 classic.

At first glance, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 is a typical monster hunting RPG, but its efforts to streamline some of the mundane foundational aspects of its brethren help to set it apart. Such conveniences don't come without sacrifice, however; with the shameless implementation of level grinding, a throwaway storyline, and a frequent problem with pacing, you'll have to look beyond its blemishes to if you wish to embrace its triumphs.

Resident Evil Code: Veronica X HD, despite the re-learning curve, is still one of the best games that came from the four original RE titles.

Simple, fast, fun, and even funny gameplay/presentation makes playing a few quick games the perfect way to burn a half an hour.

Though the game isn't as endearing as Tetris DS, it's well worth the $30 price tag if you don't currently own another DS Tetris iteration.

If you can get the Kinect, and your body, perfectly placed then The Gunstringer is a hoot of a game. While it is short, there is still plenty to gain from it (unlockables, trophies and a co-op mode) including a very fun and strange story. If you own a Kinect you might want to give this a go.

The Atelier series is loved by many and I think those very fans will be really pleased with NISA and Gust's efforts in this latest adventure.

While certainly still needing some improvement, Project Aces is drawing closer and closer to a perfect Ace Combat game. With improved visuals, a fun dogfight mode and strong online play, there is a lot to be happy with when it comes to Ace Combat Assault Horizon.

Beenox did a good job with Edge of Time, but they left a lot of room for improvement for their next endeavor.

While the core gameplay is still very much intact (stud collecting, puzzle solving, etc.) LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7 is an improvement over previous LEGO titles from Traveller's Tale Games. A bit more balance, better level design and just a more even flow makes this a better game than the previous installment of the series.

A textbook, solid tennis sim from EA Sports that is accessible yet about as deep as you want it to be.

It's nice to see a developer and publisher team up to give dedicated fans what they want. If you aren't a Naruto fan this game won't make any difference to you, but if you are, there's an awful lot to enjoy here.