It's got a great art style and an interesting enough gameplay hook. But don't let it fool you into thinking it's all about platforming and world turning. It's not. It's a game about taking in information and using it in ways you never would have expected.

The retro gameplay is an ironic breath of fresh air for the genre. A high challenge and rewarding leveling system makes each enemy kill worthwhile and addictive. Solving puzzles is just as satisfying as slaying ogres, but sometimes the difficulty can get the better of you with a particularly hard puzzle of fight.

Prototype wasn't a bad experience, but Prototype 2 builds on that framework, and provides a much richer gameplay experience. You might not replay this several times, but the main storyline provides about 12 to 15 hours of enjoyment, and the completetists out there will continue leveling Heller up long after the game is over.

For longtime fans of the DiRT games, especially those who appreciate its realistic approach to rally racing, Showdown is an abomination, an overly simple sell-out, or a bad joke of a spin-off... But for fans of off-road racing games who want something more forgiving than DiRT but still somewhat rooted in reality, or someone wishing Forza Motorsport 4 had some off-road races and a demolition derby or two, Showdown is anything but a bumpy ride.

The addictive core gameplay of hunting, gathering, and building is intact, with streamlined crafting and multiplayer that make the console version unique. It's definitely not a game for people with short attention spans or addictions to hyper-violence.

It's both cohesive and inviting, mechanically and aesthetically. And if you're interested in a game with elaborate and interesting puzzles, you're not likely to find something better this side of Portal.

The inclusion of a fully voiced cast and the open-world setting of Gotham make this one of the most ambitious games in the LEGO series to date. If you only play one Batman game that comes out this year, it should definitely be LEGO Batman 2.

Vigil nailed the Zelda formula in Darksiders 1. In attempting to evolve that in this sequel, the team stumbles a bit. It's like they wanted to keep Darksiders 2 mechanically consistent without drawing such overt references to their source material. Some story and technical blemishes crop up from this process but they don't distract from the great dungeon design and combat. Darksiders 2 is a great game, with still considerable room for improvement.

There are minor issues with the game, notably the exclusion of public matchmaking, but they can be looked past when the game hits its prime and you're murdering thousands of pointy-toothed orcs.

Long Road Ahead is still fantastic, and it sets up the conclusion to this series nicely. Buying and playing this episode is a no-brainer (no pun intended).

NHL 13 is not a bad game, don't get that idea. It's really fun when it isn't bending you over a barrel and cheating its way to victory.

In PES 2013 there's a distinct realism to the flow of the game, how players move, how they receive the ball, how they pass, and how they look for space. It still lacks polish in both execution on the field, and particularly execution in the menus and management to make a serious run at FIFA's crown, but PES 2013 will absolutely wow soccer purists on-the-field, and if that's important enough to you, then this is the pick in the 2013 virtual soccer stakes.

Tokyo Jungle has the addicting gameplay to complement this rare animal takeover premise.

Dishonored is a good game. It falls flat a bit on the pacing, the AI has a laundry list of quirks that become frustrating real quick, but on the whole the game delivers an experience you won't find anywhere else this year.

It's fun, easy to pick up for any newcomer, and something to play when friends come over. It's also a nice little distraction when you want something that's fast-paced yet demands less attention than a triple-A game might require.

Worms Revolution is more Worms, but it's more Worms with a few quirky twists. Though the water looks like jelly, it adds some never-before-possible mechanics into the world of Worms that make you ponder your plan of attack more thoughtfully.

Orcs is not a game for everyone, but you should absolutely give it a look if you're interested in ambitious design or interesting worlds.

It's got some nice simple puzzle sequences, some shootouts, and a truck full of drama. Let's just hope the final chapter doesn't take forever to come out.

With this shift to an open world style, and storyline-driven progression, Forza has drifted into an area that the franchise probably requires, but isn't expertly realized.

Despite these problems, though, Liberation brings a hugely engaging and interesting gameplay mechanic to the series, one that's informed by the character herself. For that reason alone, it's impossible for me not to recommend this game.

A fun, charming game that is befitting of the series' unique sense of gameplay. While an unfortunate amount of backtracking and a lackluster story halt the game from being flawless, these are just minor grievances in an otherwise fantastic game.

Borderlands Legends is a standalone game that is neither a gimmicky socially connected tie-in with Borderlands 2, nor is it an ambitious attempt at a port of the console games. It does hit all the Borderlands notes from the art style to the weapon variety to the abilities, just with a stripped down design.

Karateka is a perfect for for anyone that played the original as well as those that appreciate more daring and unique games.

All in all, Omega feels like a dumb action movie within the Mass Effect universe - gorgeous and exciting, but empty and implausible at the same time.

While the Wii U version doesn't do anything that's detrimental to the overall experience it also does little to improve it in any meaningful way.

Crashmo is a really good game, but I didn't like it quite as much as Pushmo. I'm not sure if the reason for that lies within me, or the game itself, but I felt far less compelled to go back to each puzzle this time around...But Crashmo is still a hell of a puzzle game, and if you're more inspired than intimidated by a challenge, I can see no reason why you shouldn't snap this game up now.

A greatly enjoyable game that fans of both series' will find a lot to love. Though it's short and strays away a bit from traditional Mega Man games, Street Fighter x Mega Man is a great play that you honestly have little reason not to experience.

The four or five challenges that click are easily worth the DLC's reasonable price. However, this DLC feels similar to the time trials in Mirror's Edge. Even though it's quality content it simply may not be what you want or expect. However, at such a price, I encourage you to jump in and find out for yourself.

Make no mistake, this is a game for gamers: furious button mashing, intense competition, and destruction on a scale that only Platinum Games seems to understand.

No doubt, Dead Space 3 stumbles—pretty hard—in some spots. But it also feels like this is Visceral honing its craft. The combat and pacing are the best they have ever been and some choices invest you in the experience, even if it’s a bummer the story doesn’t hold up.

The heart that went into developing Guacamelee! is evident in its execution and reverence to other works.

It’s a fabulously designed game with an interface so antiquated that only the most dedicated and nostalgic shooter enthusiasts will stick with it. In the end, maybe that’s for the best. You don’t see a lot of trucker hat-wearing Natty Ice-drinkers in Go parlours either.

So much of what makes Resident Evil: Revelations work is how Capcom plays it safe with level designs and gameplay mechanics. That said, the new characters and the bio scanner help turn the game into something more than a well made by-the-numbers Resident Evil. While it's not an optimized HD port of the 3DS version (to be so would require enhanced textures across the board), it still looks great and controls even better.

Although short, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger is a fun, exciting, and story-driven game. The way in which Silas recants his tales, the rewarding leveling system, the variety of locations and situations you play through, and the superb voice acting make the game memorable and worthwhile.

A fairly competent game that is held back by some mediocre platforming sections.

This version of Bionic Commando feels more like Bipolar Commando in that it doesn't know what type of game it wants to be. Giant boss fights and grappling gameplay make Rearmed 2 relentlessly challenging and fun just like its predecessors. But it becomes a more generic $15 game as soon as you realize that jumping, traversing over objects, and a regenerating health system are more akin to Shadow Complex than its Bionic Commando legacy.

I'm worried that I'm making Lost In Shadow sound bad. It's not bad. It's actually rather good. It's just nothing terribly new.

There are still a few hiccups with AI, glitches in gameplay and presentation, and repetitive commentary that need to be checked off on the "To Do" list for next year. Overall, it's a solid, occasionally masterful, occasionally frustrating sim of the national pastime.

Your interest in Tiger 12 is pretty much dependant on your enthusiasm for the Masters, and your appreciation of its mystique.

A Jekyll and Hyde of a game.

If you consider yourself a gaming history connoisseur it represents great value and a fascinating insight into the evolution of action-adventure titles.

A fascinating mishmash of concepts that don't always mesh well.

Satisfying action and a fun cooperative experience make the game a blast to play, but a short lived campaign and frustrating difficulty hold the game back from being perfect.

Due to the horrible AI, I can't bring myself to grant a higher score, but don't let that scare you. Even if you're stuck playing offline, you can still have a great time conducting a nighttime ambush or calling in airstrikes while perched atop a craggy vista, and if possible, the co-op is something that shouldn't be missed.

There is so much to do in Dead or Alive Dimensions: Chronicle mode lasts only a few hours, but between the arcade, survival, online, tag, and survival modes DOA enthusiasts will be busy for several hours more.

A great game, but it's not necessarily the greatest bang for your buck.

It especially tickled my fancy with its irreverent, unrestrained humor that rivals Earthworm Jim. If you're expecting innovation or extremely tight gameplay, this isn't the place to find it. On the other hand, if you enjoy simple action games, quirky indie experiences, or senses of humor that we seem to have left in the 90s, don't let Double D slip by.

A bite of fillet mingon is still better than a whole McDonald's burger. While The Missing Link doesn't deliver the robust experience of Human Revolution, it's the only way to experience more Deus Ex. That alone is worth the price of admission… just adjust your expectations accordingly.

If a game's quality is based solely on its replay value, then Guardian Heroes for the Xbox 360 is as good a game as Gears of War 3 or Call of Duty: Black Ops. While Guardian Heroes has plenty, unfortunately games aren't rated entirely on replay value.

If you do have friends who can't get enough of heists, then Payday is a fine choice and an arguable target for a lawsuit from Michael Mann.

At just under two hours of story here, it's kind of hard to recommend this to someone looking for an engaging narrative, even with some improved mechanics. However, if you've got 100 percent of everything in InFamous 2 and have the itch to collect more then Festival of Blood should be up your alley.

The in-depth fighting mechanics and awesome animation and visuals give KOF its own space alongside other mainstream fighters. The King of Fighters XIII is definitely an improvement over the last installment, but is still plagued with troubled online play.

Afterfall: Insanity gives fans of gritty, horror-action games a whole helping of what they enjoy. Despite its issues with a simplistic combat system and sometimes unintentionally comical cut scenes, the game is otherwise considerably solid.

Though a handful of lacking options ding the game's value, Fortune Street is still a blast to play. It marries the classic sensibilities of a board game while embracing the complexity afforded by video games. If you have a stack of board games in the closet, this game is made for you.

Despite the elimination of the ability to deliver late hits and other illegal moves, NFL Blitz remains a fun arcade experience that can finally be taken online.

If you're looking for a game that can be picked up, enjoyed, and promptly placed back down for another time, not to mention at a price that won't break the bank, Choplifter HD is a solid, recommendable purchase.

There's a lesson to be learned from Golden Abyss. Don't treat your games like tech demos. I understand the need to make the masses aware of all the cool things your device can do but there's plenty of better ways to do that than shoe horning touch controls into a game that doesn't need them. That said, there's a lot to like about Golden Abyss.

Syndicate is an incredibly ambitious, stylized, but definitely flawed game. I'm confident with another attempt, Syndicate could be something really special. I just hope that it gets the chance.

If you enjoy a game with simple pick-up-and-go golfing mechanics, don't mind a hefty challenge from time to time, and love to customize your characters from head to toe, then Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational is worth picking up for your PlayStation Vita.

Though some of the minigames can be boring and uninspired, others can be a hoot while playing with friends.

Your interest in this game will be entirely dependent on whether you already played the original, or if you're rearin' to play it again. Metal Gear Solid 3D is a great showcase of what the 3DS can do and what kind of experience it can offer, I just wish that showcase didn't retread old ground.

Linear gameplay and an incredibly short length means the game can be completed in a matter of hours, which is a problem considering the high price point. For those of you willing to pay the price of admission Yesterday is a fun nod to an earlier form of gaming with a story you won't soon forget.

I'm not sure if Anomaly: Warzone Earth is the first game to flip the tower defense genre on its head, but for me it's the first game I've experienced that does and on the whole I enjoyed it.

The only 3DS game that rivals the AR integration in this game is the card collection that came with the handheld. It's just too bad Spirit Camera's play length is disappointingly short, even when you include the non-story modes.

The Amazing Spider-Man has laid an awesome foundation of gaming mechanics through its open-world design; I just hope to see more of it embraced in future games.

It helps to think of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy as a digital celebration of the series' music and culture rather than a deep gaming experience.

The updated visuals give the dated games a fresh look, but the exclusion of levels and options like the park editor are sorely missed.

Lovers of dark fantasy and charming characters should play Last Story without a second thought, but a gamer used to modern-day levels of production value and polish won't easily set those expectations aside.

Rocking out to your favorite band is a blast, and the ability to instantly use all past DLC is a very smart move, but the game doesn't have the same wow factor as the original.

The artistic aspects of the game are timeless, and I'd recommend the game without batting an eye to anyone that's interested in quirky games or unique visual design. People that just want a fun game though, that's trickier. By all means play it if you missed it the first time around, just understand that the value is in theme and presentation rather than timeless gameplay.

Double Dragon: Neon achieves everything it set out to: reinvigorate the Double Dragon franchise while adding new elements and retaining the core gameplay that made the original games popular.

Even with all its flaws, and it has many, Resident Evil 6 is still an exhilarating action game. It's just not the return to form we were hoping for. It still has control issues, and isn't as scary or as puzzling as the series' high water marks Resident Evil 2 or 4.

Unless you've been practicing your finger exercises and reviewing your combos, Marvel vs. Capcom Origins may wind up with somewhat limited lasting power. Sure, unlocking the various extras in the Vault will take a long while, but in the end, fighting games are simply meant for fighting others.

If you stick to the online mode, have a good group of friends to share the road with, and love fast, sexy cars, you'll probably enjoy the game. It's not incredibly deep, so look elsewhere to scratch that driving itch, but it works for a quick, pulse-pounding hit of action and adrenaline...It's a shame the poor design that plagues the offline mode is so ingrained into the fundamental fabric of the gameplay.

The game feels a tad lacking in content. Single player for each character takes less than 30 minutes to beat, multiplayer and versus aren't customizable by more than a few basic attributes – and unless you count the bonus challenges for each character, All-Stars will have you punching, kicking, shooting and supering your opponents for every moment you spend with it. More gameplay variety would have been nice.

If you frequently entertain guests, Nintendo Land is an invaluable party staple. If you're a solo gamer, it's a much harder sell.

If Disney lore and collectible culture is your thing, Epic Mickey 2 delivers. If co-op puzzle-solving is your thing, Epic Mickey 2 delivers. If revealing the character and talents of Oswald is intriguing then Epic Mickey 2 delivers...But there are so many options, so many details, collectibles, characters to appease that progress doesn't flow efficiently, and retreading areas becomes tiresome.

While the story is subpar, the stealth mechanics are weak, and the lack of a dodge ability does hinder a solid combat system, this short game–clocking in at around seven to eight hours–is certainly entertaining to play.

While Trion has to be held accountable for the severe problems at launch, the truth is that the game’s experience is strong enough to shine through them. Unless you need an artificial goal like a level cap to work towards in an MMO, Defiance offers some of the best fun you can have online.

Sacred Citadel is a fine hack n’ slash side-scroller, and it’s even better with friends. The online netcode could use an upgrade and I wish there was a bit more content to flesh out the package, but for the price, Sacred Citadel is a solid adventure to be had. And it doesn’t force you into piles of menus to manage your character – that’s a bonus in itself, am I right?

Last Light isn’t as gameplay-dense an action / stealth experience as Dishonored and it’s not as impossibly polished as Call of Duty. If you enjoy directed single-player experiences, you can’t go wrong with Last Light… just don’t expect the most focused or deep experience.

If there was ever any question about “tower offense” being a viable sub-genre of tower defense, let Anomaly 2 stand as a definitive game to prove its worth.

If you’ve played the original version on the Wii there isn’t much here to allure you back to the jungle, so only diehard DK fans need apply.

Remember Me’s unique take on user-influenced combat and a scary futuristic dystopia managed to make a lasting impression, one that everyone should consider adding to their memory bank.

Even with its flaws, Magicka is fun and fresh, and offers a new experience for RPG fans.

The game is a faithful port of the arcade game, but the appeal to purchase it is really only for fans of the original seeking a dose of nostalgia.

A fun game. There's little to criticize here, save a price on the higher end of the XBLA spectrum, but you really can't compete with free.

MicroBot does not do anything revolutionary within the twin-stick shooter genre, but manages to inject some creativity into an otherwise standard class of games.

lilt line is an awesome little proof of concept that justifies its $5 cost with around an hour of bangin' beats. Jaded and retro gamers will enjoy the minimalist design, while dubstep fans will enjoy the fresh tracks and representation of one of electronica's up and coming genres.

Though the game is incredibly difficult and will test the patience of even the most Zen players, it is still a blast to play and a definite challenge to hardcore players.

The 3rd Birthday should have been brilliant, but is merely decent.

The lack of narrative hurts what could have been an awesome story.

It won't blow your mind. It won't raise the FPS bar. And if you play the big FPS games on HD consoles, moving to this would be like dumping Jessica Alba for Snooki. You just wouldn't do it. But if Wii is your only console this is a refreshingly enjoyable romp arriving right in the middle of a worrying Wii games drought.

As a single-player game, Dungeon Siege III succeeds as a fun action-RPG. It doesn't offer anything particularly new, but gamers that enjoy hacking and looting by themselves should have fun. As a multiplayer game, Dungeon Siege III is disappointing.

A good way to play this quirky RPG if you don't have a PSP.

It's a shame it was released in such a crowded downloadable game window, as it's an enjoyable diversion for the price.

For fans of the comics and the character, I can't think of a good reason why you shouldn't pick this game up. But understand that you'll probably feel like it could have been so much more.

Virtually no changes have been made between this game and the last in the series. While not wholly bad, unfortunate omissions like online play and a revamped combat system will leave fans of the series (and of action RPGs in general), wanting more. DeathSpank has a penchant for the epic, but so far his games have been average.

I liked the sense of accomplishment I felt after completing a complex level, and online play is entertaining. Racing game fans won't find the same type of gameplay in Gran Turismo, as the arcade style gameplay leans more toward the casual crowd.

Mahjong Cub3D is exactly what it needs to be - a collection of mahjong puzzles with a neat gimmick that works well with the 3DS's display.

Revelations very much feels to me like a team checking off items from a list. Ezio, Altair, and Desmond are here; there's parkour; there's combat; there's a bad guy, eventually; there are puzzles; there's a big beautiful world to explore. The problem is, they never seem to cohere into a single experience, and the kind of passion and quality that has made this series so good in the past is missing.

Sonic Generations for the 3DS is by no means a bad game, it is just a disappointing one. Being able to play as both Modern Sonic and Classic Sonic in an assortment of old and new stages is a great idea, but everything is over very quickly.

I can't help but feel like there could've been more to Gotham City Impostors.

If you've never played any version of Lumines before and you're looking for a solid puzzle game for your new Vita, then this title is certainly worth your time. But if you'd rather save your money and stay home with your block-dance-party-game, then Lumines Electronic Symphony is a bit of a tougher sell.

A broad comprehensive battle system makes each fight worthwhile, if a bit repetitive. The story is told at the right pace and will keep you interested throughout the entirety of the game. But the experience isn't entirely perfect, with some odd sound issues, a knack for getting you lost, and 3D visuals that should never be used.

If you dig DotA and want to play a streamlined version of that game on a console, Awesomenauts will deliver big time. But don't be surprised when, well, you wind up never being surprised.

Mario Tennis Open is like Jessica Alba with a giant, puss-filled zit right on the tip of her nose. Its flaws are glaring and hard to overlook – a beginner-friendly control system that harms competitive online play for purists and, more crucially, a distinct lack of imagination.

While Gungnir is in no means a bad game, there isn't anything about it that calls out to be played. The story isn't entirely original, but the lower class uprising setting fits well with the gameplay (as it does with most titles in the genre).

Tequila Works certainly understands the 2D space and there is some sense of satisfaction in navigating Randall Wayne through miles of hallowed out buildings, a treacherous underground, and zombie-infested roads.

Red Johnson's Chronicles: One Against All is for puzzle lifers. The puzzles are intense, complicated, and obtuse. To top it all off, you attack these puzzles back to back without much levity or downtime to let your brain recover making it even less friendly.

The average visuals, clunky animations, clumsy controls, and nonexistent lip-syncing represents a distinct lack of polish, but this doesn't ruin the otherwise solid game tucked within.

Though the variety of gameplay gives Retro City Rampage a broad scope, the redundancy of driving back and forth quickly becomes stale.

Doom 3 has aged fantastically well. Provided you haven't already played the games in this collection, BFG Edition is also a solid value.

A game with an identity crisis trying to be too many things to too many people. It's more successful than it should be but ultimately the entire package is brought down by being pulled in these two polarizing directions.

The Career mode is deep and involving, with a rewarding sense of progression as you earn new sponsors and bolt on better car parts...On the other hand, the multiplayer, which only offers single races online or in split-screen, is lacking more engaging features (and players, sadly).

F1 Race Stars is simple, charming, looks great (particularly thanks to a silky smooth frame rate) and has some clever nods to the real life sport without getting technical. Its simplicity makes it better suited to families or more inexperienced players, and it could be great fun in local multiplayer.

Proven gameplay mechanics and the wacky sense of humor that is Adventure Time make the game a blast to play from start to finish. Just don't expect to be playing it all that long.

I won't say that the framerate issue is a deal-breaker, but it's definitely keeping me from wholeheartedly recommending Armored Edition.

The core of the Horizon Rally DLC is solid; it recreates superbly the rally racing experience. Only in the additional features does this DLC fall short, which is less forgivable given its price point.

EDF2017 has a particular magic that defies logic. If you've played the original to death, you may simply want an excuse to play the game again despite the disappointing renovations in Portable. Hell, I'm in that camp myself, so I won't talk you out of it. Just make sure you have some friends lined up for co-op ahead of time.

The whole experience feels like an anachronism. Younger gamers might accept some of these problems more readily, and when the game is on, it’s a lot of fun. If you enjoy the simplicity of the gameplay or collecting lots and lots of shiny objects, you’ll get tons of that here, giving you more entertainment after you’ve completed the main story.

The HD treatment, online multiplayer, casual mode for newbies, and extra goodies to unlock ensure plenty of playtime for each of the various titles.

The roster of Sega stars and tracks is commendable. When the game hits its strides it can even be as entertaining as genre king Mario. But more often than not the game’s suite of issues holds it back from greatness.

SimCity as a game is thoroughly entertaining, if flawed in several areas, and now at least we can experience it fully, and hopefully put the disaster of launch in our rear view mirror.

Monster Hunter takes for granted a lot of extracurricular effort on behalf of its players. How much extra research are you willing to do on a game’s systems before you expect to have fun with it? How many nonsensical, anachronistic hoops are you willing to jump through just for a slight taste of what this game will hopefully become in ten years’ time?

I do wish that the story had more meat, and did more to make me care about the four characters.

If you’re a fan of RTS and strategy games, you can get a few good evenings out of StarDrive, just don’t expect the endless addiction and spotless interface of Civilization.

Sadly, its targeting and save point distribution make it tough to recommend for all gamers. If you're a highly skilled player that loves a challenge then you might be able to look past the game's artificial difficulty.

Unforgiving quick-time events, unintelligent AI, frustrating cheap deaths, and confusing level design are just a few problems.

It's better than last year's abysmal effort, that's for sure. But it's still not the supreme racer the biking scene deserves.

Qoga adheres to every JRPG trope you can imagine but manages to be disarmingly charming and original within that framework. Think of it as a low-budget Tales of Vesperia.

A mixed bag. The action and strategy implemented in an already demanding sub-genre of shooters is engaging and fun, but a lack of gameplay modes and stages cuts the experience short all too quickly. Dreadful voice acting, bland sound, and a lack of a compelling story keep the game from being stellar.

But its hugely let down by this DLC idea of THQ's which, executed in the way it has been, has left the game lacking in any real content to justify laying down the initial $40.

Duke, it's great to see you back again, I never thought I'd see the day. My memories mean you've earned a few runarounds online, and completing the campaign, but it is more nostalgia driven than being pulled through a compelling, polished experience.

But if you have more refined tastes, you will see through Dark of the Moon's rushed, clichéd flair and find yourself put off by repetitive, uninspired gameplay, cramped level design, and patchy physics.

It offers nothing profound, but improves incrementally over the last in the series (as the franchise is wont to do). Series regulars already know everything there is to know, and as such probably haven't bothered to read any reviews.

I really enjoyed the ridiculousness of playing poker to stop ice wolves and castle guardians (just think about it…).

Unfortunately their goal of creating an epic, apocalyptic first-person zombie survival gameends up cracking under the weight of their own ambition. A smaller scale and some more time in development and Dead Island could have been the zombie game we've always wanted.

The convenience of modern games makes this Resident Evil Code: Veronica X feel dated.

But the new game types, cartoon graphics and on-rails acceleration turn it into a car version of the human slingshot PSN game Pain.

Only the most ardent Dead Rising fans should buy this game.

Aliens: Infestation is a bit of a mixed bag: blasting through aliens in a desperate fight for survival that is both challenging and fun. Unfortunately these parts of the game are separated by a lot of backtracking that is both tiresome and frustrating.

Contra and Metal Slug are the KFCs of the 2D shooter world. And this game is literally like hardboiled chicken–enjoyable for the price, but is no gourmet dish.

If you're jonesing for classic, Rare-made GoldenEye and your N64 is nowhere to be found, then the updated Reloaded is definitely a must-buy. But if you don't already have an attachment to the old game, there isn't much here for you.

The story is decent at times but fails to compare to the magnitude of the original books' story. Leveling up and getting new gear is fun, but the combat becomes repetitive quickly.

Even though the game gets repetitive you're constantly receiving rewards and increasing your stats, which makes the game addictive.

A good dance game that uses solid gameplay mechanics. While the visuals are distinct, they're lacking on a technical level.

Once again a 3DS game fails to realize its huge online multiplayer potential.

I was disappointed with this game. Killing zombies with friends is a fun, if short, adventure, but highly repetitive gameplay makes the game stale. A great deal of backtracking and monotonous quests holds the game back even further. The nail in the coffin is no online multiplayer, because this game is just screaming to be played with friends over Xbox Live.

At its core, this is a really good game with a winning gameplay mechanic, but its flaws often grind the fun to a screeching halt.

The tension-inducing design present in I Am Alive's mechanics extends to its checkpoint system, which I would describe as torturous.

Offers an adequately suspenseful adventure and expands the series' lore, just barely making it worthy of the Silent Hill name.

Too many quirks and glitches still exist in the gameplay for me to fully immerse myself into the sport. 2K12 makes pitching more challenging and stands out as the most polished aspect of the gameplay. Very little has been added in the way of game modes this season, but the standards still play true to form.

Operation Raccoon City is not wanting for cool ideas and ambition, but cool ideas don't create a new game experience by themselves. It's a clunky, glitchy third-person shooter that just happens to have zombies in it. You can do better, so you might as well.

While the graphics are barely passable in many instances, the frame rate inexplicably drops to a total crawl with every other in-game cutscene.

An overall completion time of around five hours doesn't help the game either.

I was nonetheless impressed by the interdependence of the sea and ground battles, and it's the kind of gameplay mechanic of which I want to see more in future games. Battleship is worth a rental for sure.

This isn't a bad game at all, but its relatively low score is more a reflection of how much gaming bang you get for your buck. It's just not quite worth the ten dollars it costs on XBLA-especially considering you can get pretty much the same game for five on Google Play. Babel Rising is mostly saved by its multiplayer options.

Most Civ players will find the changes too minor and the original game complex enough that an expansion isn't necessary.

Only problem is that novelty doesn't make the game concept really workable, and thus you get a jumble of mechanics that partially invalidate themselves.

The gravity fluctuating gameplay combined with simple platforming make for devilishly difficult levels that only hardcore puzzle fans need apply for.

Don't get me wrong, I love the amount of jiggle, it's been a ridiculous and hilarious theme for several sequels now. But what I was really hoping for was more focus on how to play the game and tools to improve. I didn't see that in this installment.

With Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, the game is starting to feel stale. The Pokemon series has been living off its laurels for some time now, and the series is in need of change.

For the Poke-Maniacs out there, these two games are easily the definitive versions of this generation, but only because they offer a few added side missions and graphical enhancements. For anyone that played and enjoyed the two games before, Black 2 and White 2 can be skipped without question.

It's totally fine, and if you feel like devoting an afternoon to this game, you could certainly do a lot worse. But considering the robust, low-cost options that offer solid online multiplayer action on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, why bother with a game that's content to be merely better than average?

Despite serious gameplay and production issues, Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes is still a memorable and enjoyable game.

If you’re the type of gamer that likes talking about games as much as playing them, The Cave will give you plenty to talk about. Otherwise, if you’re just after a fun and well-crafted experience, there’s too much chaff in this package.

For as “action packed” and “feature laden” as it is, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge suffers from a lack of balance and will no doubt be a source of frustration for those who try to go against its painful grain.

Fans that want something like Monster Hunter but not in the same setting shouldn't hold their breath for Gods Eater Burst to be anything more than a quick diversion.

Essentially a no-frills score attack game with base-capture, twin-analogue shooter and real-time strategy elements all rolled into one. Its lacking content and technical niggles give it a cheap, rushed feel, yet it still manages to provide a surprisingly carrot-on-a-stick, addictive experience with just the right level of complexity for its 10-minute missions.

I really wanted to love From Dust. I love the concept. I love Eric Chahi. But the gameplay feels like it was never play-tested, and the difficulty curve is wild and unsatisfying.

For all the Criterion/Black-related hype that went into Bodycount, the end result is a disappointingly generic shooter that controls well, but doesn't offer anything that shooter fans haven't played before.

I'm glad that this game didn't focus on four different versions of Spider-Man, like Shattered Dimensions did, delivering a more focused gameplay experience overall. But it seems like that focus became too narrow, leaving out the rest of what makes the character great: crazy-awesome villains and Spidey doing "whatever a spider can."

Though the underlying action RPG mechanics are well done, constant grinding through improperly balanced levels brings the game down a couple notches.

Despite the fact that PixelJunk Sidescroller isn't that bad, it isn't that good either. It's a mildly-entertaining-but-shallow offering from a studio that's usually at the pinnacle of PSN development.

The core fighting system has been ported perfectly to the 3DS and the animation is very well done, but everything else has been stripped down to the bare essentials. Substantial lag makes most online matches unplayable, and just two single player modes doesn't give too many options for replayability.

The obtrusive HUD and messy atmospheric bits aren't bad enough to ruin this, but as with some of the questionable facets of this game, you can't help but wonder how much more fun it would be without them.

While it partially succeeds in exploring some of the aspects of pirate life, it doesn't deliver on it enough to make the experience super exciting.

Starhawk is definitely a game that was made; I just don't know if it was a game that was designed. Its scope seems at odds with its mechanics. There's nothing inherently broken about Starhawk, it's just painfully straightforward, as if the question of "why" was never asked. And it's one I continued to ponder as I played the game and don't think I ever really came up with a satisfying answer.

Game of Thrones is satisfactory at best, and dreadfully slow and ugly at worst. But there is fun to be had here. Despite all the shortcomings, I had fun, and with video games that's the most important element for my enjoyment. It's not for everyone.

But much of the time, the controls simply don't work, and instead of feeling immersed, you feel enraged and helpless. If the graphics, story, or even gameplay mechanics weren't as good as they are, I wouldn't be wasting my time with a game with such messy, unreliable controls.

The controls are not only responsive, but they show a subtlety we don't normally see in motion-controlled games. It's just too bad that what could've been a fun, magical romp is deflated by generic fantasy tropes and equally uninspired visuals and sounds.

The 3DS itself seems like an odd choice for a game like this, what with its small screen and isolated user base-compared, at least, to the massive communities surrounding PC games in the same genre.

A unique blend of turn based and real time battles is squandered on bland battles and a pacing that is far too slow.

Everything about this game is fantastic except the parts where you have to actually play it. That's what makes recommending this game really tough. Devout Fable fans will enjoy the check-in with the world as well as promises of what's to come, and some children may be indiscriminate enough to not care about perfect accuracy in controls. Everyone else should avoid the heartache.

Wii controls continue to disappoint.

007 Legends isn't completely terrible; Bond fans could even enjoy it. But for every step forward it takes two steps back.

There's a little more depth to Primal Carnage than its premise might imply, but only a little. The interplay of the game's classes provide some intelligent play, but at the end of the day there's simply not enough game here to justify its cost.

It's nothing that I want to particularly spend much time with, since it's just generally lackluster in modes and variety. It's a pretty game, that's for sure, but there was nothing in Ravaged that really drew me in, nothing that made me want to turn it later once I'd shut it down.

Despite how interesting the gamepad is used to play the game, the ten-plus hour campaign itself just isn't fun. The multiplayer is a better experience, but that's not saying much. ZombiU is for those gamers that truly want difficult survival horror with no end purpose, and that's fine for those that don't need complexity to their zombie apocalypse.

My most concerning issue with Special Forces: Team X, though, is how lost it seems. It lacks personality even though its title and pre-launch trailers exude it; it seems to exist as just another multiplayer shooter with no innovation aside from its map system.

There’s biker and vehicle customization in the game, and a fair amount of it. With outfits, accessories, and bike upgrades to attain, enough reason exists to go out of your way to nab cash in-game and increase your star count.

It’s really hard to be excited about the future of Tomb Raider after this game. It fails where more successful films and games of its kind succeed: in its characters. The way in which Lara goes from inexperienced to full-on action movie hero survivalist is so jarring that it’s near impossible as a player to remain on the same emotional wavelength as the story. Because of this the rest of the game falters.

Disappointing. On its own the game is mediocre with a missed opportunity in character variety, short time to completion, and only a small amount of enemies. Compared to past games this is a downright disaster.

While the four re-released games are all good in their own right, there's really no need to play them again. On top of that, the two new games aren't enough to warrant a purchase on their own, with Pac-Man Tilt being the only one worth at least some of your time.

Professor Layton this is not, but imitation it tries. Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights fails to capture the magic that it is trying to emulate. Repetitive puzzles and a lack of player interaction during gameplay will leave you wanting much more.

There are so many aspects of this game to which I can say "if only"… if only the camera worked right, if only the controls were tighter, if only there were more to do than find keys and kill the same dudes over and over again. But the game is what it is, and the bad seems to outweigh the good at every turn.

The concept of an open world zombie survival game is still good on paper, but somehow Techland has failed for a second time to make sure it works in execution.

The game strokes the nostalgic centers of my brain with simple RPG mechanics, and I respect the game's moxy in mocking gaming tropes. There's just no excusing the dearth of content variety and boring-as-hell gameplay.

That was the magic of Monkey Ball, and that's the magic that is completely and utterly absent here.

For all its faults, The Sims 3 on 3DS is a serviceable way of getting your pretend life fix on the go. As a launch title, it's frustrating that the game's 3DS features aren't better tuned.

A missed opportunity. The source material is strong, but in this example is executed poorly.

The convoluted story is almost pretentious in its efforts at complex character development.

BloodRayne: Betrayal is on the line of a game I'd recommend and a game I wouldn't recommend. The visuals are wonderful and genuinely a pleasure to look at. But the gameplay is hindered entirely by overly difficult platforming and atrocious controls.

There is a good game somewhere in the hybrid FPS/arcade title Xotic, but it's buried beneath gameplay mechanics that don't go well together. Collecting points, going for high scores, and zipping through levels for the fastest time is both fun and challenging, but having to slow the pace down to hunt and kill every enemy in order to advance takes away from what could have been a great title. Overly complicated controls and confusing visuals don't help either.

While it drips with cinematic style and unrelenting action, the game is held back by camera issues and a game-breaking exploit that can't be ignored.

Those of you looking for a more engaging, worthwhile, and ultimately enjoyable RPG should look past Unchained Blades and not look back.

I haven’t been this disappointed in a game in a long, long time. Not only does the campaign welch on its opportunity to create interesting and additive content in the Aliens universe, but the multiplayer is languid, broken, and laughably frustrating. Colonial Marines plays it as safe as possible and still can’t manage to copy successfully proven ideas.