A generally charming role-playing mash-up full of fun characters and witty ideas, Trinity Universe is bogged down by bland and repetitive dungeons that sharply contrast it's otherwise enjoyable tone and atmosphere.
Boasting all of the trademark transformative action of the long-running franchise, War for Cybertron is a solid, in-your-face shooter that goes out of its way to appeal to longtime fans.
Featuring an excellent creation engine supported by a staggering amount of tools and content, ModNation Racers serves as a stellar sandbox, even if the actual racing isn't quite as inspired.
It may not be the breath of fresh air that the original Skate was, but Skate 3 still offers up plenty of innovation in its robust skate park creation mechanic, engaging multiplayer feature, and expanded move list.
It may not be the prettiest or most polished action-RPG experience available, but Square Enix's Nier is still a fun title in its own right, creatively melding hack-n-slash gameplay with traditional RPG elements, and topped off with a bizarre, yet engrossing story.
A stellar upgrade to an already solid fighter, Super Street Fighter IV makes a great brawler even better, boasting 10 new characters, various balancing tweaks, and plenty of worthwhile gameplay flourishes.
A heartfelt love letter to a bygone era of role-playing games, 3D Dot Game Heroes offers up a memorable, tongue-in-cheek romp through a nostalgia-fueled pixelated paradise of old-school dungeons, puzzles, and gameplay conventions.
Even with the infamous "cut content" issue lurking overhead, Yakuza 3 is still an expertly crafted crime-drama jam-packed with pulse-pounding fights and a gripping narrative brought to life by a living, breathing Okinawa.
God of War 3 is more than an action game: it’s the conclusion to a commercially successful and critically acclaimed series that acts as the ‘face’ of Sony’s entire gaming brand; what Master Chief is to Microsoft and Mario is to Nintendo, Kratos is to Sony. As such, God of War III was burdened with a Herculean set of tasks. But while it lives up to the high bar set by the previous installments, it can’t quite bear the weight of bringing the epic story of Kratos to a meaningful end. It’s still a finely crafted action experience that fully showcases the PS3's immense capabilities but it isn't the satisfying conclusion that fans both want and need.
Final Fantasy XIII is, without a doubt, the most technically impressive Final Fantasy ever created. Its stunning visuals and fast-paced combat shine and elevate the series to new heights, but overall, the game is a harsh reminder that beauty is only skin deep. AJ Glasser, our resident JRPG diehard, had high hopes for Square Enix's latest epic, but walked away heartbroken by what it had to offer.
