Game Reviews

Without strong characters or story to rely on, The Ballad of Gay Tony highlights the ways in which open-world games have been refined and improved since the original release of Grand Theft Auto IV.
reviewed on Nov. 3, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Even the most nostalgic Infinity Engine stalwarts will find a lot to love in this story-heavy RPG.
reviewed on Nov. 3, 2009 by Dave Snider

The third installment in the Mario brothers' handheld RPG series is the funniest and most engaging one yet.
reviewed on Nov. 2, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

DJ Hero's gameplay is challenging and exciting with a feel all its own, making it a welcome addition to the world of peripheral-based rhythm games.
reviewed on Oct. 27, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

The gameplay is pretty clunky, but everything else surrounding it makes WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2010 a really interesting package for wrestling fans.
reviewed on Oct. 23, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time manages to play to its strengths while adding enough to make this the best in the series.
reviewed on Oct. 23, 2009 by Vinny Caravella

A Boy and His Blob is a charming all-ages affair that one-ups the game it's based on in virtually every conceivable way.
reviewed on Oct. 23, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Borderlands' blend of first-person shooting and role-playing works because it puts the shooting first, resulting in a satisfying action game with enough depth and skill development to keep you hooked for 50 hours or more.
reviewed on Oct. 19, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Almost in spite of itself, this is both a solid tower defense game and a good piece of fan service for South Park fans.
reviewed on Oct. 16, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Whether you're on the track racing or off the track tuning and designing cars, Forza Motorsport 3 is incredible.
reviewed on Oct. 14, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

The heavy metal fantasy world of Brutal Legend and the characters that populate it are far more well-realized and engaging than the ambitious-but-flawed gameplay.
reviewed on Oct. 13, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Nathan Drake's latest outing is one of the most exciting and memorable action games in years, and one you need to play for yourself.
reviewed on Oct. 12, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

With an excellent visual style and middling gameplay, Lucidity tries hard to be more than average.
reviewed on Oct. 12, 2009 by Vinny Caravella

Saw captures the rusty, sadistic aesthetic of the films well enough, though like the series, the longer it goes on, the less interesting it is.
reviewed on Oct. 12, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Katamari Forever doesn't change much about this quirky, long-running series, and you know what? That's totally OK.
reviewed on Oct. 2, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Zombie Apocalypse brings dual-joystick shooting and zombies together in a really unimaginative way.
reviewed on Sept. 30, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Extraction gets a lot of mileage out of the Dead Space setting, with a decent light-gun campaign that's worth playing through... once.
reviewed on Sept. 29, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Vanillaware's lush and layered visuals and the game's razor-sharp combat elevate Muramasa well beyond your average brawler.
reviewed on Sept. 28, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Eagle-eyes will notice a few rough spots, but there's enough good, solid virtual pinball here to keep players satisfied.
reviewed on Sept. 25, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Physics and sadism combine to great effect in this motocross action game on Xbox Live Arcade.
reviewed on Sept. 23, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Improvements on the original in every area make Dirt 2 the one to beat when it comes to off-road racing.
reviewed on Sept. 23, 2009 by Drew Scanlon

In spite of its wonderfully unique concept, Scribblenauts struggles to fulfill its potential.
reviewed on Sept. 21, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

If you like the way Bungie makes first-person shooters, you'll enjoy Halo 3: ODST.
reviewed on Sept. 19, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

It trades its predecessor's goofy fan-service enthusiasm for something approaching relevance and seriousness, but MUA2 still packs a superhero punch.
reviewed on Sept. 18, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Wet's terrific lead character deserves to be trapped in a better game.
reviewed on Sept. 18, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Need for Speed: Shift does a lot of the things you'd expect a sim-style racing game to do, but it does so in a passionless way that's really off-putting.
reviewed on Sept. 15, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Section 8 has some cool ideas at its core, but the execution falls flat too often to be wholly recommendable.
reviewed on Sept. 11, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

A loving tribute to one of the most influential pop groups of the 20th century with an abundance of catchy, recognizable songs to make up for the gameplay's relative simplicity.
reviewed on Sept. 9, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Neversoft delivers a bubbly, slick-looking Guitar Hero game that benefits from big production values and a more accessible feel, and suffers from some questionable choices and a track list that lacks cohesion.
reviewed on Sept. 4, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Arkham Asylum is a very nasty place, but Rocksteady gives you enough tools to make foiling the Joker's latest plot thrilling from start to finish.
reviewed on Sept. 1, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Dr. Layton's second case leans heavily on the first game's formula, which means it's just as full of charming mystery and head-scratching puzzles.
reviewed on Aug. 25, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

It's not going to blow your mind with new, never-before-seen features or anything like that, but Wolfenstein is well-designed and engaging from start to finish.
reviewed on Aug. 18, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Shadow Complex is amazing from start to finish... and after you finish it, you'll probably feel like diving right back in for another run.
reviewed on Aug. 17, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

The madcap cartoon warfare in this team-based online game is a lot of fun, provided your team knows how to work together.
reviewed on Aug. 10, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

It's really hard to imagine anyone having anything that even resembles a good time while playing G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
reviewed on Aug. 10, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

This remade version of the Turtles' second arcade beat-'em-up is technically competent but not particularly exciting.
reviewed on Aug. 7, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Adding an alien invasion to the bleak, post-apocalyptic world of Fallout 3 is conceptually quite pleasing, though Mothership Zeta suffers from its narrow path, and it leans more on combat and less on character than it should.
reviewed on Aug. 5, 2009 by Ryan Davis

The core fighting in King of Fighters XII is really sharp, but everything surrounding it is a little disappointing.
reviewed on Aug. 4, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

This loony, breakneck, tough-as-nails 2D platformer is a great way to kick off the Summer of Arcade and totally worth your $10.
reviewed on July 30, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Let me be clear: this game might contain too much crazy to be any fun for players who aren't already into it.
reviewed on July 29, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Shatter's a solid download that offers a terrific sense of style while also bringing you a really good update of the old Breakout/Arkanoid formula.
reviewed on July 27, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Wii Sports Resort is more--much more--of what made you fall in love with the Wii in the first place.
reviewed on July 22, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Nearly twenty years later, the humor and the puzzles of this seminal LucasArts adventure game still hold up, and the new production values help it feel fresh again.
reviewed on July 21, 2009 by Ryan Davis

While there's certainly substance to Arc's 2D fighter, you have to dig through so many layers of loud music and flashy visuals that the whole experience becomes a bit exhausting.
reviewed on July 21, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Despite some frustrating early network issues, this lean, mean sequel to the grandaddy of all Battlefield games still has it where it counts.
reviewed on July 13, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

While it lacks the "Bible-as-a-weapon" innovation found in the previous game, this prequel tale merges adequate gameplay with a plot good enough to keep you focused.
reviewed on July 13, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

EA skillfully fleshes out the formula for The Sims with its latest iteration, bringing it closer to an actual game than the PC series has been, without diminishing what makes it so broadly appealing in the first place.
reviewed on July 11, 2009 by Ryan Davis

The physics-based action in this puzzle-oriented platformer from FrozenByte is inventive, satisfying, and visually stunning.
reviewed on July 8, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Telltale delivers a breezy pirate adventure with its first episode, easing into the fiction while still honoring the Monkey Island name.
reviewed on July 7, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Street Fighter IV combines old and new in powerful ways, resulting in a game familiar enough to bring retired fans back into the fold while being different enough to appeal to the players who have stuck with the genre since day one.
reviewed on July 7, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann