IGN

• WII
• 8.5 / 10
• États-Unis

The core of Phantasy Star is a pretty standard 8-bit RPG, and it's understandable that many players wouldn't want to spend five bucks on an experience that will have them grinding levels, buying health potions and running into random battles after every few steps on the overworld map -- longtime fans of the genre will have done all that many, many times before. But Phantasy Star is nonetheless fully worth its asking price of 500 Wii Points for the fact that, without this game, many players wouldn't be fans of the genre. It was such a definitive release and so pivotal for an entire generation in the late '80s that it can't be denied its classic status, and must be recommended to experience again here on Wii. Or, if you're an RPG gamer who missed Phantasy Star the first time around, it might be even more interesting for you to dive in now. Dragon Warrior or Final Fantasy on the NES could well have been your first step into console role-playing if you were an NES owner 20 years ago, which is very likely -- there were many more NES players than Master System ones back then. You could gain some new insight and context into your own childhood memories to see what was happening over on the other guys' platforms while you were clubbing Slimes or casting LIT2 on the Kraken. So consider giving Phantasy Star a look on Virtual Console. If you try it and like it, its three sequels -- Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom and Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium -- are all also available already. And if you feel like you need a bit more convincing before surfing over to the Wii Shop, hop into IGN Retro's Fond Memories: Phantasy Star. Our man Travis Fahs recounted his own childhood experiences with the game there just last summer, and he's one of the many for whom that very first sentence up at the top of the article absolutely holds true.

• WII
• 6.1 / 10
• États-Unis

I'm a Mr. Driller fan, but this version is a little hard to recommend because of its shallow depth. It only takes a few minutes to complete each stage, and with a mere seven on offer there's around a half hour of gameplay here. You could spend time improving your scores and times, but without online leaderboards no one will know what an amazing Driller you are (it is becoming less and less acceptable for games not to include this basic feature). There is also no multiplayer mode – disappointing, since other Mr. Driller games include it. If you've never played this arcade action game it might be worth a download to see why it's been popular for a decade. But the previously anointed probably don't need another version with fewer features.

• PS3
• X360
• 6.6 / 10
• États-Unis

Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is a gimmick game. Its most unique feature is its ability to display fancy pants 3D visuals, and the experience is indeed impressive. But take that away and you're left with a generic beat 'em up. And 99 percent of us will have to take it away, because we don't have a specific type of television that will display in 3D, nor do we have the expensive 3D goggles. Punching and kicking endless hordes of enemies is a very retro game design. Retro isn't necessarily a bad thing, of course, but I expect a bit more out of a $15 game.

• PS3
• X360
• 7.3 / 10
• États-Unis

With almost a decade between installments, it's impossible to argue that id is trying to milk the Wolfenstein license. Yet this also means that a lot of evolution has gone on in the genre. It's admirable that Raven Software recognized this with Wolfenstein, but you can't help but wish that they developed the kernel of the ideas in this game into something more. As it is, this new Wolfenstein comes off as an engaging, though otherwise forgettable, shooter.

• WII
• PC
• 7.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Despite the occasional issue, Cursed Mountain is a fun and sometimes frightening title -- I actually jumped once or twice as I played. The adventure's spooky atmosphere is something I haven't seen before, which is refreshing amidst a genre clogged with games all sporting the same themes. It's a smart tale. I felt compelled to discover what happened to Simmons' lost brother, and the make-up of the world, all logically sewn together, drew me in. But the dated controls and level designs, frequently filled with hidden keys leading to locked doors, are just a little too familiar, if not altogether archaic. For these reasons, the game is sure to appeal to survival horror fans who've never had issues with those aforementioned control or design shortcomings. If you fall into that category, grab your gear and hit the mountain. And if not, you might want to stay indoors this time around.

• PS3
• X360
• 7.5 / 10
• États-Unis

All-in-all Draft Combine’s greatest asset is its ability to deliver a small taste of NBA 2K10 gameplay and it gives you a head start on creating your baller for use in My Player mode. Its lifespan is pretty limited, but with a five-dollar asking price that’s to be expected. If you’re a diehard basketball fan who’s itching to upload their created player to 2K’s servers in anticipation of October 6, I’d say go out and download this game. But if you’re a casual basketball fan, go ahead and wait for the genuine article to hit store shelves.

• WII
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

Spectrobes is a bit of an odd case in the fact that I love most of what the game is doing, but just can’t personally stand the style or characters. It’s all super generic for someone who is admittedly out of the game’s demographic, and who has seen about 100 anime games too many. That all needs to be tossed aside though, as this game is intended for a specific audience, and is a huge success for that audience. Much like how Endless Ocean is an odd – but obviously well made – Wii offering, Spectrobes does a laundry list of things right, so if you fit into that category of gamer (or have family members that do) where trading cards, monster collecting, and endless options for team building and interacting with your squad is something you’re looking for, Spectrobes truly does it better than any game on Wii, and is as close to a full-world Pokemon experience out there as we’ve seen. The story isn’t as gripping or engaging as other more mature RPGs, but the battle mechanic, control, polish, concepts, and depth is all there. Whether this game is your cup of tea is one thing. Despite that, however, there’s no denying that it’s a well made, impressive experience. Disney has truly done Pokemon better than Nintendo as far as Wii is concerned. If the series can now step away from it’s obvious “me too” feeling and age up slightly it could be a serious contender not just for the younger crowd, but for all action-RPG fans.

• PC
• PS3
• X360
• 5 / 10
• États-Unis

Watchmen: The End is Nigh Part 2 isn't as exciting as the first episode, and that one wasn't exactly a smash hit to begin with. The story feels less fleshed out and the combat is as uninspired as ever. If you enjoyed endlessly and mindlessly beating up the same small handful of foes in the first episode, there's more waiting for you here. Might I suggest getting a hobby instead?

• X360
• 5 / 10
• États-Unis

I'm not sure why this add-on was ever released. Nearly two years after we were regaled by BioWare with the idea of a constantly expanding Mass Effect universe through downloadable additions, we've now born witness to a grand total of two underwhelming expansions. Pinnacle Station is uninspired, poorly constructed, and offers none of what made Mass Effect a great game in the first place. Skip this, lest you want to sully your anticipation for Mass Effect 2. That's all Pinnacle Station has done for me.

• PS3
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

Smash Cars can be pretty fun on a basic level, with good track design, responsive controls, a speedy framerate and lots of air to catch being the highlights. However, there isn't a whole lot of content to be found in the initial release as it's pretty clear that stuff was held back for future DLC. If you don't mind spending $15 for a couple hours of entertainment, then it's worth your while to check it out. However, I'd suggest holding back and seeing if future price reductions or DLC bundles make the value any better.

• PC
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

With almost a decade between installments, it's impossible to argue that id is trying to milk the Wolfenstein license. Yet this also means that a lot of evolution has gone on in the genre. It's admirable that Raven Software recognized this with Wolfenstein, but you can't help but wish that they developed the kernel of the ideas in this game into something more. As it is, this new Wolfenstein comes off as an engaging, though otherwise forgettable, shooter.

• X360
• 5.1 / 10
• États-Unis

If you're just cuckoo for the Tour de France, you may find some enjoyment in this uninspired simulation. There are many stages to race through and lots of opportunities to micromanage your dream team of cyclists. But everyone else should steer clear, as it is a very unfriendly experience to anyone who isn't well-versed in the ins and outs of the sport. It misses a good opportunity to teach us a little bit about this event that, despite being over 100 years old, is a mystery to many Americans. Not only does it expect you to be familiar with the cycling challenge, it also doesn't take the time to teach you how to play this videogame version. The most famous Tour de France athlete, Lance Armstrong, is known for persevering through difficult challenges. But I doubt even he could make it very long with this game.

• X360
• 9.4 / 10
• États-Unis

Shadow Complex probably could have used a little more development time to iron out a few glitches and nail down the sometimes awkward aiming system. Even so, it stands as one of the best games yet in 2009. And I'm not just talking about the Xbox Live Arcade. The classic, exploration-heavy gameplay is a winner. Go buy this game.

• WII
• 7.7 / 10
• États-Unis

I wouldn't put Real Heroes: Firefighter over the Wii's best first person shooters: it's going to take more than dousing flames to trounce games like The Conduit and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. But the Epicenter Studios' game is a nice supplemental FPS if you're looking for a break from the usual and expected, and though the game has a few issues here and there that didn't get cleaned up before publish, it's a solid and impressive effort that's released at a hard to beat price.

• PSP
• 5.1 / 10
• États-Unis

When considering Hannah Montana: Rock Out the Show with the target audience in mind, I can certainly see the appeal. There are more than 10 well-known songs to play and a responsive (albeit easy) set of mini-games to make up the concert gameplay. Plus, you can decorate your very own stage! w00t! This isn't the worst game I've played, but it's hard for me to give it a glowing recommendation considering its short length and mind-numbing easiness. After all, a game aimed at a young crowd of girls can still be good even if it's "girly." But I won't call this a "good" game. I'd call this a mediocre game at best. But it doesn't matter what I think, because with Miley Cyrus, you're getting the best of both worlds -- and that's the only thing that really matters.

• PS2
• 7.3 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS3
• 4.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Pleasant surprises or no, this is still something of a bum deal. I can understand those without backwards-compatible PS3s wanting something for the kids, but I can't see this lasting longer than an hour or two tops. These are definitely entertaining little mini-games (moreso than the last PS2-to-PS3 port), but they were more fun when taken as part of a whole. I suppose if you're in dire need of kid-friendly entertainment and have five bucks sitting in your PlayStation Wallet, this might do, but everyone else should probably pass.

• PS3
• 4.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Pleasant surprises or no, this is still something of a bum deal. I can understand those without backwards-compatible PS3s wanting something for the kids, but I can't see this lasting longer than an hour or two tops. These are definitely entertaining little mini-games (moreso than the last PS2-to-PS3 port), but they were more fun when taken as part of a whole. I suppose if you're in dire need of kid-friendly entertainment and have five bucks sitting in your PlayStation Wallet, this might do, but everyone else should probably pass.