IGN

Usually I'll take whatever Japanese arcade shooter I can get, but Otomedius Excellent is outdated and overpriced. It's got two things going for it: cute anime girls (if that's your thing) and an addictive upgrade system. Were this a downloadable game asking a third of the entrance fee, I would say it warrants a look for shooter fans, but with so little flash or innovation, I have a hard time recommending it.

Despite adding a number of features, Assassin's Creed Revelations is very similar to its predecessors, and that's both its biggest strength and weakness. There's nothing wrong with Assassin's Creed. It's a great franchise with unique, compelling and well-designed gameplay. The catch is that we've effectively been doing similar things for the last several years now. Incremental upgrades are more than welcome, but at some point players need a new experience.

It can be exciting and visceral, and there were numerous times in the game where I stopped and said, “Sh--, that was cool.” But all this awesome racing action gets somewhat lost amid the nonexistent story, the dumb/scripted AI, the lack of options, and the overall shortness of the game. The Run is not a marathon racing game, it's a quick and dirty drag race.

Cave Story is a brilliant, touching game that is truly special, and that all gamers should make it a point to play. But cheaper, arguably more perfect versions of it are easily available for download. In fact, through the eShop you can have this very same game in its DSiWare form on your 3DS for literally a fraction of the cost.

News flash: people find sex and violence entertaining. Saints Row: The Third gives the people what they want and drops us into an open world adult theme park where we can treat ourselves to delightful acts of bloodshed and perversion. It doesn't take itself too seriously and only asks that you don't, either.

The changes made since Oblivion are many, and result in a more focused and sensible style of play, where the effects of every decision are easily seen. Featuring the same kind of thrilling freedom of choice The Elder Scrolls series is known for along with beautiful visuals and a stirring soundtrack, playing Skyrim is a rare kind of intensely personal, deeply rewarding experience, and one of the best role-playing games yet produced.

Super Mario 3D Land represents the first 3DS title to fully make use of the system's capabilities. With an expertly balanced difficulty progression, dazzling level design and masterful Power-Ups, this is the ideal 3DS experience.

In a blockbuster holiday season of M-rated war games, it’s refreshing to see something so different and special as Rayman Origins. It’s downright gorgeous and a total blast to play alone or with friends. A truly realized vision at the top of its genre, Rayman Origins is an extravaganza with plenty of action to keep it fresh from start to finish and beyond.

Despite its flaws, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 takes the fantastic series we've come to love over the years and iterates on it with great success. The multiplayer is hands-down the best it has ever been, with more features, more modes and a ton of new levels and ways to interact via Call of Duty Elite. The singleplayer campaign and Spec Ops mode add value to the overall package, creating something that may not be perfect, but is too damn addicting to pass up.

The main game has difficulty settings to adjust, leaderboards to compete on and an insane amount of collectibles to find (though they are more frustrating than they should be due to the on-rails nature of the game). And then there are the mini-games, which are fun on your own or with a friend.