All in all, the multiplayer component of Mario Kart 7 is solid, addictive and fun.

Despite only sporting four game modes and keeping that comically intense combo-praising voice, this is the best version of Bejeweled to grace the iPhone yet.

Even though it's short, pricey and put together by some sort of writing B-team, Raam's Shadow is the best Gears of War 3 DLC yet.

Rayman Origins is a rare beast, both as a side-scroller and a clever game with a ton of heart. This is a game with a sense of humor and a sense of joy. Fans of the genre would be fools to miss it, as would anyone who appreciates artistic and eccentric game design, or who wants a non-traditional but extremely solid multiplayer title.

Gamers who experienced Nate's extraordinary journey to find Shangri-La in 2009 should recognize the familiar gameplay, but still welcome this new adventure with open arms and a Sully-sized hug.

I didn't expect to be blown away by WWE 12, but I also didn't expect to be so disappointed by the final game. While the virtually limitless possibilities of Universe 2.0 do give the game an incredible amount of replayability, the questionable AI and disappointing second version of Road to Wrestlemania leave much to be desired.

On the surface, the changes made to F1 2011 over its predecessor seem small, but once you start a career mode or get to grips with car setup, you'll find that the game really is the huge overhaul they claimed it would be.

If you somehow never played RE4 on the GameCube or PS2 then you owe it to yourself to download this game right now. It doesn't matter if the graphics could have been a little, tiny bit better because the gameplay is something that cannot be improved. This is the epitome of game design and a truly awe-inspiring masterpiece.

While the Gears of War 3 campaign will be better remembered for its variety and pacing than dramatic heft, it's the send off the Gears series deserves; one with enough content to keep it in our minds and disc trays for months to come. Whether you're craving some closure on the saga of planet Sera, or simply want as much multiplayer bang for your buck until Modern Warfare 3 arrives, you owe it to yourself to play Gears of War 3.

Ultimately, Dead Island is fun and deserves to be played, but I recommend waiting a bit until the game is patched into a more stable state. Visual gaffs are one thing, but problems with auto-save that have the publisher recommending you avoid multiplayer, the game's best feature, are a complete red flag.

Being free and highly accessible, AOEO will certainly score with casual gamers, but the repetition and lack of depth make it hard to recommend dropping coin on premium content.

What is appealing about Anomaly: Warzone Earth is its value for money. For as little as $1.99 you can have a visually stunning tactical game that's as good as any on PSP or DS. As far as iPhone games go, it's certainly one of the top ten available, without question.

If you are interested in casual play, you're much more likely to enjoy Super Street Fighter 4 or Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix, both of which are already available on PS3 and 360. If you didn't find joy in the fireball hurling antics of other SF titles, this one won't sway you either. You should probably hold off for Soul Calibur V. If you are a fighting enthusiast with an Arcade Stick, a lot of patience and a vast hunger for competitiveness, you'd be hard pressed to find a better experience than Third Strike.

There's plenty of exploration to be had in the cities built on top of each other (think: Futurama), challenging gameplay that requires thought-out strategy and 21 categories of game-defining augmentations. I love how augmentations are so well tied to Adam Jensen's multi-layered, sci-fi narrative as well as the gameplay.

So nobody on Fear 3 has reinvented the wheel, but they've sure gussied it up.

As the title might suggest, Alice is maddening. Somewhere wrapped in a straightjacket and thrown in the dark recesses of Madness Returns is one of the best games of the generation. But it's floating amidst a sea of inadequacies that prevent it from reaching its true potential.

It is flashy and it is confident to the brink of arrogance, but it rides that reputation proudly and delights everyone who plays it along the way.

Again, it's more of a misunderstanding than anything. Capcom thought gamers wanted a bare-bones, stand-alone version of Mercenaries, and that's what they made.

To give Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D anything other than a maximum score would be an insult.

Despite the strong online component, MotorStorm: Apocalypse still doesn't do enough to stand out.

inFamous 2 is as close to an essential PS3 game as you're going to get in the run up to Uncharted 3, and with the inclusion of the UGC feature, it might even last you until then. Cole McGrath isn't winning any awards for emotional input, but he is tearing the house down with his acrobatics and incredible firepower. When you play this, you'll feel like a real superhero, or super villain, and whichever way you swing, you'll love every minute.

So it came to pass that Molyneux's latest epic was brought unto Windows. Though it was a port lacking in polish, with graphics below those of the modern age, the people embraced it as a rarity. Gritty but immature, dark yet not steeped in the occult, it stood out amongst the science fiction and horror-fantasy that dominated the marketplace.

Like many of the fictional detectives of the era, LA Noire is flawed, but it gets the job done. More importantly, if leaves you hoping for more adventures.

The setting is cool, the parkour is sort of neat, the focus on objectives over Team Deathmatch is admirable, but there's really nothing special about Brink.

Even though I was only interested in Outland for its looks at the onset, playing the game gave way to one of the more memorable gaming experiences I've had in recent months. From the growing complexity of the level design, to the vibrant and simple presentation, to the way in which developers Housemarque were able to create a universal mythology that truly speaks to the hero inside all of us, Outland has set the bar for downloadable titles in 2011.

It's hard to sum up a game like Portal 2. It doesn't have enough shooting to be a shooter, but it's not abstract enough to be a puzzle game. It's unique and challenging enough to attract the hardcore, but its offbeat humor and intuitive design will make it a hit with casual players.

Stacking is one of the most charming games you'll ever find, a refreshing break from the ubiquitous shooters flooding the market. It may not have much replay value, but you will still enjoy your stay in the whimsical, unique world of Charlie and his fellow stacking dolls.

Stacking is one of the most charming games you'll ever find, a refreshing break from the ubiquitous shooters flooding the market. It may not have much replay value, but you will still enjoy your stay in the whimsical, unique world of Charlie and his fellow stacking dolls.