IGN

• WII
• 10 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS2
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

In the end, it comes down to your ability to stomach a storyline that never seems to go anywhere interesting vs. an incredibly compelling item crafting mechanic. Even when I was hating the game's characters, I was hopelessly addicted to synthing new stuff, building up my Grow Book and thumping on enemies for ingredients. The game can't completely overcome the dry, slightly insipid story bits, but it does come rather close, and if you were a fan of the first one, there's definitely enough here to bring you back. JRPG fans would do well to test the waters with Raze's storyline first, and those that can't stand these games are best served just avoiding it altogether.

• PSP
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• X360
• 4.8 / 10
• États-Unis

I can’t recommend the Xbox 360 version of this product to anyone. The occasionally glitchiness of the PC version was much more pronounced on the console, particularly when it came to enemies getting stuck in the environment. The aiming mechanic is cumbersome and confusing when dealing with more than one target, which happens frequently, the menu system and interface are a chore to sift through, and character movement and control is more imprecise. An inconsistent framerate, low level of detail compared to other Xbox 360 releases in this genre, and jerky animations combined with the already unoriginal art style makes this an unpleasant experience for anyone. Even worse, at one point a door disappeared from the environment so I couldn’t actually exit and had to reload a previous save (which didn’t solve the issue), and in multiple instances save files I overwrote multiple times didn’t load correctly. That’s pretty poor, and part of the experience you should be aware of if the Xbox 360 version is your only option.

• PSP
• 5.2 / 10
• États-Unis

Warriors Orochi 2 is tolerable on the PSP and all the leveling can be somewhat fun, but ultimately this is a repetitive, visually unappealing experience that reiterates what we've seen in all of the game's predecessors -- and there have been many predecessors. In the game's defense, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Japanese voice track included as an option, which is a very welcome addition, considering the franchise's notoriously awful dubs. Despite Warriors Orochi 2's massive roster and Ad-Hoc multiplayer (which runs fairly well, though it does suffer from slowdown), I just can't give this a recommendation. You've undoubtedly played this game before (and I'm not just talking about the console version) and I find it frustrating that so little effort is put into making something genuinely new in this franchise. I just want to kill Orochi and move on!

• X360
• 5.3 / 10
• États-Unis

• X360
• 8.9 / 10
• États-Unis

Defense Grid is a great value on Xbox Live Arcade. It's a fantastic tower defense game, costs half what it does on PC, and throws in bonus levels for us. Strategy games aren't everyone's cup of tea, but if you count yourself a devotee of the genre you won't want to miss this one. Even if you aren't a tower defense fan, Defense Grid may convert you.

• PS3
• X360
• 8.9 / 10
• États-Unis

There have been a lot of Guitar Hero games over the past few years. And there will be more yet before this year comes to a close. It's easy to get lost in the flood. But if you're going to grab one, Guitar Hero 5 is a good choice. The accessibility, streamlined presentation, solid note charts, and welcome gameplay improvements make this the best Guitar Hero game in recent memory.

• WII
• 6.9 / 10
• États-Unis

Telltale has another solid outing in this episode, and it's cool to see the story start to come together. Plus, the next episode looks to have a completely cool and unexpected setting, so we're looking forward to seeing where this all goes. It's just too bad Telltale can't get these games running well on the Wii.

• WII
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

Rock Band 2 for Wii fixes every problem the original game had on the system and even adds pleasant new features. Aside from a little less detail in the visuals, this is identical to what Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 players have been playing since September. It's a more user-friendly experience, simultaneously more challenging for the hardcore and more accessible for casuals. The 80+ tracks on disc are a fantastic offering spanning an enormous variety of genres and eras (if you get the standalone game, that's about 60 cents a song). The music store should be up just after launch and you'll be able to stream DLC from your SD card. Online play in World Tour works flawlessly and Battle of the Bands is an inventive way to engage players in the Rock Band community. Wii owners don't have to have Rock Band-envy any more -- this is the real deal, and is a must buy for anyone down with music games.

• 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?