IGN

FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage tries to be part arcade racer and part simulator, and for the most part it works. The main problem is that it doesn't push boundaries in either direction. So if you're trying to get immersed in a realistic racing game, you're better off with Grid. If you enjoy silly stunts and racing at insane speeds then you should wait to see how Burnout Paradise PC turns out. Still, hybrid racers of this type are pretty rare on the PC in this day and age, and this is by no means a bad game.

NHL 2K9 does some good things. The controls have been fixed, it's fun, and there are some nice touches to the presentation. But the AI is very suspect and the emphasis on fun hurts the authenticity, which was once 2K's biggest selling point. Certainly there are merits to purchasing NHL 2K9, but there's no question it is inferior to its rival this year.

Don't get me wrong, the control scheme is solid as well as a throwback to the wrestling games of old (so it's sure to appeal to a lot of people) and the Ultimate X Match is fun and provides for some good looking spots, but overall TNA iMPACT! ends up being a shallow game. It's not going to take you long to see everything this title has to offer and start dreaming about the sequel.

The story doesn't offer much of a foundation for the action, either. The real shame of it all is that the game was let out the door with so many bugs, some that merely slowed our progress and dampened our enjoyment, and one that actually stopped us cold. Many of these issues are bound to be addressed in upcoming patches but we'd wait until the game has at least a few under its belt before trying to tackle it again.

No matter which angle you decide to look at Vampire Rain: Altered Species from, the game is bad. The graphics scream PS2. Sounds such as the death groan and boss grunts are laughable. The story is boring. The acting is hammed up in the worst way. The HUD is hideous. The levels are linear. The majority of weapons are useless. The AI is retarded. The enemies are too powerful while the bosses are too weak.

Rookie gamers are going to feel at home here, but veteran gamers may feel like they need more. Still, Spore proves to be one of the most unique products in recent memory, one that reaches for the stars and ends up giving us a universe in a box.

Overall FaceBreaker doesn’t deliver on many of its goals. It’s designed to provide a rock- paper-scissor style gameplay experience, but players will likely end up feeling cheated and overly frustrated by the core gameplay. There are too many balancing issues and cheap moves given to some characters to keep players around for more than a couple of hours.

Viva Piñata Trouble in Paradise is a satisfying experience and should appeal to gardeners of all ages. And although Rare is not presenting anything remarkably new, it has added nearly everything many gamers found missing from the previous game, thus creating the definitive Viva Piñata experience.

The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. community, reacting to advance word that Clear Sky isn’t the hoped-for triumph, are already saying post-release patches and mods will make it glorious. Yes, it’s possible, and maybe even probable -– bugs can fixed, balance can be altered. It’d be foolish to rely on it, however, let alone use it to vindicate the game’s reactorful of misfires.

For every time I cursed the stupid AI, I cheered at the demolition of another building. For every bug that got me stuck in some bushes, there was an attack chopper waiting to be jacked. If Mercenaries 2 had more polish, it would be a great game. As is, it’s still worth playing -- and enjoyable -- but falls far short of its promise.