Why you should play it: It is a new 2D Mario game on a console, which is exactly what a great many gamers have dreamed about for a long time.  Plays even better than classic Mario games of the past.  Multiplayer with up to four at a time can make NSMBW extremely fun and very challenging for even the best 2D Mario players out there.  Replay value is extremely high.  Good new power-ups.  Wonderful level design.  Old and new tunes go perfectly with each level.  Fantastic platforming.  Yoshi is back!

Why you may want to avoid it: No support for the classic controller leaves gamers scratching their heads.  While multiplayer can be extremely fun, it can also be just as frustrating (especially if one player is much more skilled than the others).

Final Thoughts: Playing through NSMBW solo is a blast.  Playing through with at least one other player adds so much more depth and challenge to a classic formula that we all know and love.  This game is an instant classic in every way and is already in my top 5 Mario adventure games of all time.  A must have for every Wii owner.

Why you should play it: Graphics and art design are breathtakingly beautiful.  Level design is well done.  Platforming mechanics are spot-on and make jumping around from place to place fun and easy.  Musical score is good throughout and adds to the fairy tale fantasy feeling that the game creates.

Why you may want to avoid it: Simplistic and incredibly easy (Elika will save you every time).  Nearly impossible to challenge any type of gamer.  Goofy looking Prince makes us long for the badass Prince found in previous games.  Not the best voice acting but certainly not the worst ever. Lackluster, unsatisfying combat provides many boring moments that slow the game’s pace down in a bad way.

Final Thoughts: I can rememeber how impressed I was when I first played the Sands of Time on the original XBOX.  That feeling sadly was not present when I began playing this Prince of Persia game.  I regret to say that it only got worse as I played more, as I quickly became bored with the repetition and lack of challenge this game has to offer.  Bring back the darker Prince from the XBOX/PS2 era because this one does not measure up in any way.

Why you should play it: One of the best-looking racing games out there.  Racing is exciting, challenging, and fun.  Lays the foundation for an excellent new racing series.  Great online modes add to the fun.  Crashes look and sound superb.

Why you may want to avoid it: Small number of tracks available.  Only one offline single-player mode that needs more depth.  No split-screen multiplayer makes no sense for a racing game, especially a good one.

Final Thoughts: The developers of Motorstorm made an above average, fairly unique racer that is loads of fun to pop in and play.  However, they shot themselves in the foot with mistakes like a shallow single-player game and not offering any type of offline multiplayer.  The core racing elements are still awesome enough to give Motorstorm 4/5 stars.

Why you should play it: Vibrant visual style.  Controls are spot-on with a near-perfect layout.  Fun variety of levels to play through.  Loads of awesome gadgets and guns at your disposal.  Some of the best platforming this generation of consoles has to offer.  Clank levels do a decent job of changing up the pace of the game.

Why you may want to avoid it: Can be much too easy, especially early on.  Bland story will make many gamers lose interest quickly.  Space shooter levels felt pointless and out-of-place.

Final Thoughts: Having never played any Ratchet & Clank game before I must say that I was very impressed and am now a fan of the series.  If Insomniac makes a few improvements, I can easily see myself giving A Crack in Time 5 stars.  As for Tools of Destruction, it is one of the best 4 star games out there and most definitely worth playing through at least one time.

Why you should play it: Some of the best graphics the next-gen systems have to offer.  Huge interactive world with so much depth and attention to detail.  Wonderfully composed musical score.  Combat system is great and much improved over Morrowind.  AI is top-notch.  Tons and tons of side quests.  Extremely high replay value.  Knights of the Nine adds quality quests and content that you would expect from a great game like Oblivion.  Shivering Isles includes one crazy new world to explore along with an excellent new crafting and items system.  Draws you in whether you are watching or playing.

Why you may want to avoid it: Loads quite often but understandably so.  Knights of the Nine is much shorter than Shivering Isles or Oblivion’s main quest.  Shivering Isles can be simplistic and annoying at times.

Final Thoughts: There is really no reason to avoid Oblivion unless you do not want to get sucked in to this addicting RPG.  Bethesda has done it again.  This should be in every gamer’s collection and is well worth the current $30 price tag.

Why you should play it: Great concept that is executed well.  Sharp graphics.  Fighting system is top-notch and easy for anyone to excel at.  Scarecrow segments are a good change of pace.  A large amount of extra content to play after the main story is over.  Leaves you wanting more and more every time you are forced to turn it off.

Why you might want to avoid it: Boss battles get repetitive (too many Bane-like characters to fight).  Loads of riddles to solve but no Riddler.  Unable to drive the Batmobile.  Too many main villains are missing.

Final Thoughts: As far as superhero action games go, this is absolutely top-notch.  While a lot of our favorite villians were missing, we can only hope that they will show up in a sequel that somehow improves on this amazing action title.  Whether you are a fan of the bat or not, do not pass this one up.   It is one of the must-play titles of the year.

Why you should play it: Simply amazing combat that makes anyone holding the controller feel like a complete ninja badass.  Awesome weapons that can be upgraded.  Fast, furious action that rarely lets up.  Finishing moves are brutal and fun.   Superb cut-scenes add much needed production value.

Why you may want to avoid it: Can be incredibly hard.  Boss battles will frustrate you and can take many attempts before victory is achieved.  Camera works against you most of the time.  Gameplay gets repetitive quite often.

Final Thoughts: Action games are known for having repetitive gameplay.  However, Ninja Gaide II is such a fun and stylish ride that you’ll rarely care.  This is a great game that can be a difficult challenge for any gamer willing to take it on.  I highly recommend that you accept the challenge and see all that Ninja Gaiden II has to offer.

Why you should play it: Still the most realistic baseball sim out there by a long shot.  Vastly improved fielding over last years.  Wonderful “at the ballpark” feel with deadly accurate stadiums, active crowds, and custom chants.  Franchise mode is deeper than before.  Road to the Show is a great experience that no other baseball game can compete with.  Best gameplay, visuals, and sound of any baseball game to date.

Why you may want to avoid it: Online play still has lag issues.  Lengthy load times throughout.  Many gameplay issues from 07 sadly remain unsolved.  Very challenging at times, especially to newcomers.

Final Thoughts: America’s favorite pasttime is very well represented again by MLB 09: The Show.  Anyone looking for the closest thing to real baseball in the form of a video game absolutely must check out this one out.  Aside from fun arcade-like alternatives, this is the only baseball game worth playing.

Why you should play it: The board play engine adds more depth to the best offense and defense around.  First-person fighting is quite possibly the best fighting ever included in a hockey video game.  Atmosphere changes makes it feel more like real playoff hockey than ever before.  Minor yet noticeable gameplay tweaks make NHL 10 that much better than its predecessors (and are very much appreciated by hardcore hockey fanatics).  Online play is just as good if not better than before.  New player customization options will be loved by many.  EA uses the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” motto to near perfection.

Why you may want to avoid it: NHL 09 was so good and similar to NHL 10 that there are not that many good reasons to upgrade from many casual hockey fans out there.  GM mode is a decent addition but feels more shallow than it should.  Some computer controlled GMs are downright stupid with their trade offers.

Final Thoughts: The hardcore hockey fans out there will be upgrading to NHL 10 no matter what.  For the rest of the crowd it really comes down to wheter a few gameplay tweaks and additions are worth the full price of addmission.  If you are on the fence, wait for a price drop or holiday deal to pick this up.  However, if you somehow missed out on NHL 09, or just want an even better hockey sim than that one, pick up NHL 10 as soon as possible.  You’ll be glad you did.

Why you should play it: Solid first-person shooter action.  Can make one feel like Bond.  Good looking environments.  Nice voice acting from Daniel Craig.  A few good multiplayer modes to choose from.  Vast selection of powerful weapons to blast away enemies with.

Why you may want to avoid it: A lot of similar animations shared by all characters.  Multiplayer is arguably stronger than the single player experience, which sadly is not saying much.  Bond moves are too obvious and really do not add much to the game.  Short campaign.

Final Thoughts: This game could have been much worse.  However, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t have high hopes.  It is the best Bond game I have played in a while but once again that is not saying much for Quantum.  So many flashbacks to the previous movie make me wonder why this game was not named Casino Royale.  Worth a bargin bin purchase price or a rental, but only buy if you are a hardcore Bond fanatic.