IGN

There are some really great things about Darkspore. The vast amount of customization options and the simple but fun battle system kept me interested enough to overlook the poor execution of story.

All told, Red River just about achieves its objective - an engaging halfway house between soldier simulation and improbable heroics, and a slick, smart co-op modern warfare experience. If only it had trimmed down the flabby downtime and the reams of prattling fratboy dialogue which dominate its campaign, and instead pursued more tactical variety, we'd perhaps be looking at something exceptional. As it is it's merely capable, with occasional flashpoints of brilliance.

MotorStorm Apocalypse’s shift to the end of the world helps distil the very essence of what this series is about. Racing through the rubble is unpredictable and thrilling, but some of the rougher edges have also been amplified. Its ambition can push the game beyond the limits of frustration, though it also gives rise to some spectacular moments that help make this an experience that, while flawed, is brilliantly unique.

Mortal Kombat combines the novelty of extreme violence with a great fighting engine. My favorite moments with Mortal Kombat were always playing against a friend (Gamespy's Ryan Scott is a beast), but I was disgusted by how unbalanced some of the single-player challenges are. Mortal Kombat is a great game. It's not the most polished fighter out there, but it has a distinct flavor and it'll be a hit at gamer get-togethers. I'll leave you with some friendly advice: show your friends Noob Saibot's default Fatality. It's amazing.

The Xbox 360 version of The Dragon Knight Saga is a game slightly better than the sum of its parts. While its graphics are subpar for a modern game, the combat is fast-paced and fun. It feels much better with the 360 controller rather than the mouse-and-keyboard setup of the PC version

The original Portal benefitted from its brevity. It had a concise story paired with inventive first-person puzzle mechanics that challenged you to be creative while pulling the trigger. Portal 2 makes the original look like the prototype it was. It's filled with a larger cast of characters vividly brought to life through brilliant writing and some of the best voice acting in video games.

Dungeon Hunter: Alliance has left me less than impressed. Gameloft's strategy of copying other studios' hits has worked before and the core game here was a worthwhile clone back on the iPhone two years ago -- but playing it on the PS3 now feels out of place. The extras that have been tacked on to sell this version as a new experience all fall flat, or, worse, just don't work.

The story mode has interesting squad command gameplay, though I found myself enjoying the co-op missions more because I could actually yell at my sniper to kill the dude with a rocket launcher. If the single player were longer, and the story was worth following there'd be a great game here, instead of just the good one that might get ignored.

Anomaly: Warzone Earth is a clever twist on tower defense that will rope back in gamers that think they’ve had enough of the well-worn formula. The balancing act between action and strategy is nicely tuned. Even when the firefights are ferocious, you’re still thinking about adjusting routes and how to smartly deploy precious power-ups so you don’t run dry later in the mission. And to top it all off, Anomaly’s good story and great locations give you constant reasons to fight.

NASCAR The Game 2011 shines in the midst of pack racing where it’s a compelling game that anyone who likes moving fast on four wheels can enjoy. But the experience on the outside of the pack and the flawed online play make it a less than successful overall package