Review Round-Up: Batman, Ratchet & Clank, And More

You can tell the holiday season is upon us, not because Christmas decorations are appearing on store shelves before Halloween has even passed, but because we have lots and lots of reviews. The biggest titles of the year are starting to appear in stores next to the Christmas decorations, and you need to know what games deserve your hard earned money.

Be sure to click on a game's title to check out the full review (and to see the score).

Batman: Arkham City (360, PS3)
"Arkham City not only lives up to the standards set by Arkham Asylum, it bests its predecessor in every way and stands tall as one of Batman’s greatest moments."–Andrew Reiner

Dance Central 2 (360)
"I still think that 90 percent of all dance moves look better when anyone other than me performs them, and that children dance with a wild abandon that few adults are confident enough to muster, but my time with Dance Central 2 has convinced me that even those of us that aren’t dance enthusiasts can have fun busting a move if we’re willing to give it a shot."–Ben Reeves

Guardian Heroes (360)
"Even though some aspects of Guardian Heroes haven’t aged well, the strength of the battle system, branching paths, and characters help this brawler retain its place near the top of the class. Weird Gameboy Advance entry aside, I’d love to see Treasure return for a proper sequel that doesn’t feel inclined to cling to some of the outdated elements of the source material."–Bryan Vore

Just Dance 3 (360, PS3, Wii)
"The Just Dance series was designed to be a party game, and, sadly, it doesn’t perform well outside of that kind of atmosphere. You won’t be whipping out most of these dance moves on any other occasion, but I don’t think Ubisoft cares if you learn how most of these goofy moves are performed. It doesn’t care you’re going to feel like an idiot dancing in front of the Kinect. In fact, it’s probably banking on the fact that your helter skelter gyrations will give you an adrenaline-spiked thrill. Ubisoft probably doesn’t even care that you think its game is silly. Ubisoft wants you to just dance. And if that’s all you care about, you might have fun."–Ben Reeves

Okabu (PS3)
"For parents who are looking for a wholesome game to play with their children, Okabu is a no-brainer. Even without a kid for a sidekick, Okabu's light-hearted romp is worth a look for gamers wanting a break from more serious and demanding titles."–Jeff Marchiafava

Payday: The Heist (PS3)
"I want to love Payday, but sadly I can’t recommend this barebones PS3 port to anyone but the most die-hard of co-op shooter fans."–Adam Biessener

Professor Layton and the Last Specter (DS)
"You’ll recognize a lot of the same puzzle types from previous entries like block sliding, tracing tangled wires, and basic geometry. I suppose it’s not easy to create the 155 in-campaign puzzles from scratch, but I’d take fewer puzzles for a little more innovation. Once you’ve beaten all the puzzles in a normal Layton game, there’s very little reason to put the cart back into your DS. London Life will ensure plenty of gameplay to bridge the gap to the next 3DS Layton chapter."–Bryan Vore

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One (PS3)
"All 4 One’s insane amount of variety will satisfy both fans of the series and gamers interested in a change of pace. The game’s sense of humor alone is sufficient grounds for recommendation. Insomniac’s latest cooperative treat is a breath of fresh air."–Tim Turi

The Sims 3: Pets Limited Edition (360, PS3)
"For gamers who just want a chance to make their own pretty kitty and then watch it scratch up the furniture, The Sims 3 Pets delivers. If you want a Sims experience that builds on previous installments, incorporates your progress from The Sims 3, and actually makes your simulated world more interesting…well, better luck next time."–Joe Juba

Skylander's: Spyro's Adventure (360, PS3, Wii)
"Armed with a nice roster of characters, Skylanders is an engrossing experience. Outside of an odd difficulty spike at the end and a few less-than-polished moments, the game hits its target. If I were a kid, I have no doubt I’d be saving my pennies to buy more Skylanders. However, as an adult, it’s hard not to feel manipulated."–Matt Helgeson

Solatorobo: Red The Hunter (DS)
"I can’t marshal too much frustration at Solatotobo, even if I’m bothered by its overly simplistic mechanics. It’s a fun introductory action/RPG, but experienced players should consider a more sophisticated title. That is, unless you love your game heroes to be covered in fur."–Matt Miller