IGN

King of Fighters XIII is definitely an improvement over its predecessor. There are some new modes added in, and the online play (while still not without its issues) is vastly improved over over KOFXII's lag-filled multiplayer. However, there are still some big issues with the game. The new Story mode has a pretty weak and convoluted plot and the boss characters are some of the cheapest since Street Fighter IV unleashed Seth on fighting fans.

Sword of the Stars II is in love with its own history and story, to the point where its encyclopedia favors dozens of background entries over any sort of gameplay information. It may be just as well, because seven patches later, the game is still broken in so many places that it will be tough to find any consistency. There are many other 4X games on the market that do basically everything SotS2 intended, but better and without the bugs.

Rabbids: Alive & Kicking falls victim to the same problems the Kinect's worst games suffered from a year ago. Imprecise controls ruin the uncomplicated games. It started out unfulfilling and didn't get much better. It's the kind of mindless thing I'd load up on my phone for five minute bursts. At home I'd rather be doing anything else.

Shinobi for the 3DS represents a valiant effort to bring back this cult hit from SEGA's past. The variety of moves, high difficulty level and abundance of secrets make for an enjoyable experience that harkens back to the original in many ways.

In Hydrophobia: Prophecy, impressive water simulation elevates an otherwise standard action game. It definitely entertains, and using the environment to creatively put down your enemies satisfies. Now, here's hoping the developers finally get working on parts two and three.

Like I said, I wanted Jurassic Park to be good, but just like John Hammond's dream of a dinosaur amusement park, it doesn't pan out. I wouldn't call Jurassic Park a bad game as it works and does take us back to a time when dinosaurs (stiffly) roamed the Earth, but the story, animations and general gameplay keep it from being able to contend with most titles on the market -- and that includes other Telltale titles.

THQ's efforts in breathing new life into its core mechanics have paid off. Combat now has a natural flow that not only makes sense from the perspective of a player but from the perspective of someone watching a wrestling match take place. The tension and drama that should be present inside the ring are there, and the only reason that's possible is because there is a balance and fine-tuning in the mechanics.

Noticeably repetitive gameplay moments aside, L.A. Noire offers a different and delightful take on the open-world formula that Rockstar’s refined over the years. You can explore the world if you want, but I love how focused the story is, that you can simply go from point to point and rocket your way through the cases.

If you skipped out on Marvel vs. Capcom 3 earlier this year or simply heard about the Ultimate version and opted to wait it out, you'll find a lot to love in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. The added characters round out the roster very nicely, bolstering the full lineup to potentially fifty. However, if you're looking for something more than added characters and stages, UMvC3 doesn't add much in the way of new features and modes, making the forty dollar price tag and retail-only package a little hard to swallow.

A great amount of love and care went into creating Halo Anniversary, and the new graphics engine, while not perfect, is an excellent addition to bring Halo players who missed out on the original ten years ago up to speed. Halo Anniversary's campaign shortcomings are pretty apparent, but many of the elements that made the original Halo so great are here, from the great story to the tight combat and well-balanced weapons.