Stories by: GamePro staff

From Chrono Trigger to Fallout 3, these are the RPG games everyone should play!

I'm surprised there aren't more RTS titles on the DS. The stylus and dual screens seem like a natural fit for the genre but aside from a handful of titles, it's sort of slim pickings for RTS fans. Robocalypse aims to fill that void with a robotic take on the genre that, for the most part, succeeds.

Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff runs back the clock to an era of pre-franchise mode football sims with 8-bit style sprites and cut-scene laced arcade gameplay.

I'm a big CoD honk; I played the first two games religiously and every now and again, I'll reinstall one or the other and play through it from beginning to end. I didn't appreciate the third instalment very much, mostly because they didn't bother releasing it on the PC (what were they thinking?) but the franchise redeemed itself with the sublime Modern Warfare. I loved that game-the single-player was awesome (AC130 missions FTW!), the modern setting was fantastic and holy crap was the multiplayer good! I was initially sceptical when World at War was announced-why go back to World War II when the modern setting hadn't yet been fully explored-but my doubts quickly disappeared when I finally got my hands on a copy.

"I'm over here!!" Thanks for pointing that out...for the tenth time. I am, in fact, manoeuvring in your direction, so if you'd kindly shut up I'll feel a little less like hurling my DS out the window. Honestly, I don't think I've ever been so annoyed by a sound effect. I know you all want to get rescued ("Is anybody there?") but Mr. Esc. should really have you all put a sock in it ("Help me!!") before offering to lead you to safety.

First things first: 007: Quantum of Solace is not the second coming of Goldeneye, nor does it really stand out amidst the other big shooters this holiday. Quantum of Solace plays like Rainbow Six Vegas with a James Bond disguise using the Call of Duty 4 engine to render some very impressive visuals. Unfortunately, Quantum of Solace can't stand up to the properties it was based on, hampered by bland and repetitive gameplay. Ultimately, it feels as though a smaller Treyarch B-team was put on Bond duty, the same development studio behind the new Call of Duty: World at War..

With many of the early online hiccups behind it, SOCOM's PS3 debut emerges as a hardcore multiplayer shooter that seasoned SEALS will surely appreciate.

Star Wars the Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels is strictly for the younger half of the fandom, the kids who are still awed by the rise and fall of Anakin and the antics of Jar Jar Binks, God help them.

THQ steps into the wrestling arena once again, showing off a few new gimmicks in Smackdown vs. Raw 2009. While many sore spots from the previous instalments have been fixed or reworked, SvR 2009 feels more like an "it's about time" update than a fresh experience. Still, wrestling fans should definitely get this game -- especially if they've been out of the ring for a while.

End War is a strategic variant of multiplayer Call of Duty 4 or Counter-Strike. It's a game of constant give and take, action and reaction, and deliciously rewarding upgrades in between battles. Better still, the game's built-in voice recognition system takes it to a whole new level of gaming.

With gameplay that strays from its platforming roots, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts is sure to drive hardcore fans of the franchise nuts. But don't get too uptight about the new vehicle-based focus-I found it to be absolutely charming. It works beautifully and really fits in nicely with the vibrant world of Banjo-Kazooie.