IGN

• PS2
• 7.9 / 10
• États-Unis

Guitar Hero World Tour is a fun title, to be sure, but it's also a disappointment in a lot of respects. A number of things it tries to accomplish were already done better in Rock Band, which you might figure would have provided a simple blueprint to be followed and expanded upon, but that's not the case. The music creation tools are a great idea in theory, but the end result isn't as robust as I would have hoped it would be, both in terms of abilities as well as the songs that come out the other end. The game does have a good bit going for it and can serve to act as a stepping-off point for next year's game, whatever form that might take. Unfortunately, I thought the same of Guitar Hero III, and here we are.

• WII
• 9.5 / 10
• États-Unis

As with Mega Man 2, it would be easy to go on and on singing the praises of Mega Man's third NES adventure. But just as with that game, I'll cut to the point -- Mega Man 3 is an excellent, fully featured and incredibly enjoyable action experience from the NES that is absolutely worth your investment of 500 Wii Points. To this day, fans of the franchise debate whether or not 2 or 3 is the best in the series -- to me, the point is moot. Both are incredible, and both can be owned for a combined total of just ten bucks. You should download both. But it is important to assert that Mega Man 3 fully deserves the praise that fans continue to offer it to this day. Series creator Keiji Inafune seems to have recently taken a stance against the game, regretting some of its innovations -- the new Mega Man 9 was intentionally created in the style of 1 and 2 for example, leaving out mechanics like the slide technique first seen here. But though it is true that several of the later Mega Man sequels were just quick, cookie-cutter cash-ins, the franchise had not yet sunk to those depths by 1990. Mega Man 3 is excellent, the endless debate over whether it or 2 is the best sequel is a valid one, and you should spend the digital cash to jump into the experience and discover its quality for yourself. Mr. Inafune, I respectfully disagree with any reservations you have about this title. It rocks, and its arrival on the Virtual Console makes it still a good time to be a fan of Mega Man.

• WII
• 7.8 / 10
• États-Unis

In the end, Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 is a better game than 2008, but it still has lots of room to grow. The modes are there, the added features this year such as online, interactive entrances, motion finishers, and Road to Wrestlemania all make the overall package much, much stronger, but in wrestling games it's all about making a core design that can be played for hundreds of matches over, and that's all about gameplay. The new motion changes are stronger for the most part, but it's still somewhat limited due to its simplicity. Hopefully THQ's design will evolve, as there's only one type of real wrestling fan out there, and they don't need casual controls or "anyone can play" designs as much as they want a deep, fun experience. Interaction with items and objects in the world could be better, AI is often pretty moronic in the Road to Wrestlemania modes, the camera is a real pain (oftentimes not even showing downed opponents outside the ring) and the lack of free running in-ring and out is really a shame. There are piles of changes and bug fixes that can be changed for next year, and hopefully Yuke's can find a more Wii-specific identity for the game along the way. It visually isn't very impressive, most of the VO was used in Road to Wrestlemania mode, leaving a lot of repeats when fighting in standard matches, general combat is still pretty rough and limited, and matches end way too quickly due to the game's generic health bar for characters, cutting out the region-specific damage. If an "Arcade" mode needs to be left in for causal gamers, that's perfect, but Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 will be a much better game if THQ spends 10% of its time on the casual gamer, and the other 90% on making SVR a better game for the hardcore. After all, if games like Wii Sports have proved anything, it's that casual gamers don't need huge, expansive products to have a good time. Develop something fun and simple for them to enjoy, and then flesh out the bulk of the game for those that really care about seeing and playing it all for years on end. If you've got the choice, this review would encourage you to pick up the PS3/360 version of SVR this year. If Wii is your only system, or if you are looking for a game that appeals to everyone at the sacrifice of more depth and strategy, Nintendo's system still has a very different take on the WWE, even if it isn't as refined or polished just yet.

• PS3
• X360
• 7.8 / 10
• États-Unis

In the end, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is a good game but one that falls short of its potential. The Roster Editor is a welcome addition, Create-A-Finisher could be deeper but is a great first effort, the Inferno Match is over-the-top but fun, and Road to WrestleMania is one of the best story modes I've seen in a wrestling game in years. However, I can't shake the feeling that I'm playing last year's game when we get down to the nitty gritty match mechanics. Entrances, match list presentation, animations, and even a couple crowd members are recycled from SVR 08; pixilated audience members in the upper deck and six-man matches causing framerate drops haven't even been addressed; and the ECW Extreme Rules match has been gimped. These issues shouldn't be deal breakers for fans of squared-circle action nor do they detract from the fact that this is better than last year's game, but the problems do leave me without ever feeling "wowed" while playing SVR 09.

• PS2
• PSP
• WII
• 4 / 10
• États-Unis

There's just nothing to Ben 10: Alien Force that's worth taking a look at. Everything about the game is entirely uninspired, from the bland visuals and awkward physics to the sleep-inducing music. It's a shame, really, considering the fact that the game could have been fun had it offered refined platforming and an interesting (and especially exciting) battle mechanic where you constantly change forms to vary your combos. I can't even recommend this to fans of the television series, though I imagine a young gamer might overlook the numerous issues just to have fun playing as the different characters.

• WII
• 5.2 / 10
• États-Unis

Candy Factory is a functioning puzzle game ported directly from its PC counterpart with a few Wii-centric waggles thrown in. The waggles are randomly responsive and can slow down your daily candy production. The graphics could have used an update or overhaul, as playing this retail title feels a little underwhelming compared to several Wii Ware titles. The audio and music could benefit greatly from some variety. In the end, the most commendable thing about Candace Kane's Candy Factory is her refusal to exploit vertically impaired indigenous peoples for cheap labor (looking at you Wonka).

• PS2
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

In the end, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is a fun game that falls short of its potential. The Roster Editor is a welcome addition, Create-A-Finisher could be deeper but is a great first effort, the Inferno Match is over-the-top but fun, and Road to WrestleMania is one of the best story modes I've seen in a wrestling game in years. However, I can't shake the feeling that I'm playing last year's game when we get down to the nitty gritty match mechanics. Entrances, match list presentation, and animations are recycled from SVR 08. Sadly, the graphics don't do the franchise or the PS2 justice thanks to a crowd filled with undefined blobs, so-so wrestler faces, and belts that hover about people's shoulders. SVR 09 on the PS2 is clearly a toned down version of the game found on the PlayStation 3. If this is your only option, it's a decent wrestling game, but the visuals hold it back from the heights previous PS2 SVR titles have reached.

• PSP
• 6.5 / 10
• États-Unis

In the end, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is fun, but it falls short of its potential. The Roster Editor is a welcome addition, Create-A-Finisher could be deeper but is a great first effort, the Inferno Match is over-the-top but fun, and Road to WrestleMania is one of the best story modes I've seen in a wrestling game in years. All that's fine, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm playing last year's game when we get down to the nitty gritty match mechanics. Entrances, match list presentation, and animations are recycled from SVR 08. Sadly, the graphics aren't a bright spot and aren't interesting to look at thanks to the ugly crowd and sharp edges of the wrestlers. The straight truth is that SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 on the PSP is a stripped down version of what's on the home consoles, and it shows. It's not bad, but it's nowhere near as solid as or as entertaining as its brethren.

• X360
• 10 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS3
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS3
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS3
• 2 / 10
• États-Unis

• WII
• PC
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft was a disappointment, especially after the Nancy Drew series by Her Interactive. Because of the literary connection between the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, you may have played the Her Interactive games and if you have, you're bound to expect that level of artistry and game play. Unfortunately, The Hidden Theft just doesn't deliver. The Hardy Boys stories are perfect for adventure games, containing all the ingredients necessary for success: an interesting premise, a good story, popular main characters but, due to substandard sound, art and level design, the recipe just doesn't gel.

• WII
• 5.5 / 10
• États-Unis

For gamers willing to look past Twin Strike’s budget title status, you’re likely to find a relatively decent time. The game’s campaign, though ultimately a bit brief, provides some memorable missions and a few exciting enemy encounters. Graphics certainly won’t win any awards but they're adequate, albeit with one of the most boring art directions I’ve seen in the past few years. It would have been nice if the combat controls were a bit more responsive, but the game’s dual control schemes provide a mostly enjoyable experience for both casual and core gamers alike. In the end, Twin Strike: Operation Thunder is a decent choice for players looking to find a cheap way to pass the time, even if the game is just as generic and bland as its title implies.

• PS2
• PS3
• WII
• X360
• 6.5 / 10
• États-Unis

The biggest strike against AC/DC Live is that it's just too expensive for what you get. It's too bad, because this is a fantastic set of songs. If you can't live without AC/DC, then pick this up now. Otherwise, I'd wait for an eventual price drop. In either case, don't buy AC/DC Live unless you plan import the tracks to Rock Band. It's really not worth a damn as a stand-alone game.

• PS2
• WII
• X360
• PC
• 6.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Look, I'm not going to pretend that my opinion matters much in this regard. This is High School Freaking Musical here, it's already entranced the nation with its catchy tunes and wholesome characters. If your kid loves High School Musical they are going to want Senior Year Dance, and they're probably going to love it because it has Troy and Gabriella and Sharpay and everybody else. But if you're trying to figure out which one to get for your kid (or hey, yourself, I'm not judging!), then listen up. The Wii version is $50 and has you swing your arms to dance. The PS2 version is $50 ($30 if you already have a dance pad) and you step on arrows to dance. It really just depends on if you like dance pad games or arm swinging dance games. The other two versions shouldn't even be contenders. The 360 version is a whopping $70 and is actually a worse version of the PS2 one because it freezes occasionally. Xbox Live support does not constitute the extra money. The PC version is the cheapest at $30 but totally misses the point by making you use your keyboard to play. They're all just okay rhythm games that have the benefit of featuring the most popular teenagers in the world.

• DS
• 8.9 / 10
• États-Unis

Robocalypse offers fairly conventional RTS gameplay, but it is a well-oiled machine that plays very well. What is really unique here is the gleefully absurd humor and art style. The daft, irreverent tone is refreshing, and we should hope Lender and Wright have more game scripts up their sleeves. RTS titles are a rarity on the DS, and this is a polished effort. Strategy fans shouldn't let it go by unnoticed.

• DS
• 6.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Exit isn’t the best franchise in the Taito galaxy of stars, but it has its strengths and the Nintendo DS version, even with its flaws, isn’t all that bad of a puzzle game. It does some things right, but other things wrong – just deal with the quirks and you’ll probably have a good time.