Sega

Sega is a weird company—almost the antithesis of Nintendo. Both corporations were once gaming giants who've seen their stock fall in recent years, both created some of the greatest videogame IPs of all time, and both are still players in the industry. Yet, while Nintendo still makes consoles that cater to their hardcore legions of fans (and games that those fans vociferously want), Sega opted out of the console hardware business after the Dreamcast and seems almost single-handedly determined to take its classic franchises and pervert them in ways that do little more than alienate their core audience. Shining Force EXA continues that trend.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language

Game Description: Shining Force EXA challenges you to unite a planet. A bitter war between two world superpowers has raged on for decades; armies of beasts and demons devastate the people and the land. With both sides deadlocked, two young heroes rise up to begin a heroic journey to stop the fighting and unite the divided world. As either Toma, a talented sword fighter boy, or Cyrille, a cunning female sorceress, you'll venture into a stunning world of swords and sorcery teeming with a huge variety of tribes. With aggressive offensive and defensive strategies, you'll lead your battle party into combat while protecting your home base, the Geo Fortress, from massive attacks. Enhanced Power Arts System - Players will master different Power Arts and unleash a wide variety of magic attacks.

From its incongruous RPG-style leveling up to its endless recycling of levels to its utterly ridiculous Arabian Nights-themed story, Sonic and the Secret Rings feels horribly padded from top to bottom. To top it off, the sloppy controls make the game way harder than it should be. There might be a serviceable game buried somewhere in here, but I don't think it's worth anyone's time to try and find it.

Game Description: Sonic brings his trademark speed and attitude to the Wii in his first solo adventure since 1991. In Sonic and the Secret Rings, Sonic finds himself in the colorful and vibrant world of the Arabian Nights tales. There he embarks on his most outrageous journey to date through an expansive 3D world brought to life with realistic water reflections, light bloom, and lifelike physics. Sonic and the Secret Rings makes custom use of the innovative Wii remote to create a truly immersive gaming experience.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Cartoon Violence

Simply put, the game is fantastically entertaining. I had doubts as to whether or not a brawler could keep my interest for any length of time, but Yakuza not only went the distance, it had me coming back post-completion and smacking down fools after the credits rolled—something I rarely ever feel compelled to do.

There are three conventions that a game for the Wii ought to follow. First, it shouldn't be a rushed port from another system with a new control scheme shoehorned in for its own sake. Second, it ought to present a new method of gameplay, and have it work. Third, and most importantly, it shouldn't hurt.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Cartoon Violence

Game Description: Super Monkey Ball fanatics rejoice! AiAi and all his friends have rolled their way onto Nintendo's new console with new mind-blowing puzzle levels and a wealth of new and exciting Party Games specifically designed to fully exploit the innovative Nintendo Wii controller. Other titles will have a difficult time matching the multitude of possible variations in game control as presented in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz.