An upgraded version of a 16-bit masterpiece -- but it's needlessly redundant for anyone who picked up "FFIV Advance."

Thanks to a potent combination of ingenious tactical A.I., flawless squad controls, and terrifying audio/visuals, these games are a perfect balance of realism and playability, without resorting to heavy-handed scripting and the predictable linearity in level designs found in its contemporaries. In fact, Blood is so good, it actually manages to put its predecessor to shame.

The consistent rotation of gameplay styles keep the experience energized, and fleshing out your fellowship with two friends makes for some amazing couch co-op. Although the game may be lagging a bit mechanically, the gorgeous wonderment of the world makes Trine 2 an adventure well-worth embarking upon.

It's up there on the podium with "Ridge Racer Type 4" and "Daytona USA 2," contending for the title of very best ever.

With this game, series director Koji Igarashi proves that he can still breathe new life into this long-running, often self-cannibalizing franchise.

Prince of Persia delivers well-crafted gameplay that borrows elements from its predecessors (and plenty of other titles) but makes great strides in developing a new identity for a series -- and a character that isn't as completely annoying as you might think from the first few lines of dialogue -- that seemingly lost its focus over the past few years. Of course, some issues here and there disrupt its goal in surpassing "The Sands of Time", but it's an incredibly enjoyable journey nonetheless.

But Revolution's greatest omission is testament to just how addicting the game is. It's disappointing not having the option to play "one more turn..." after a victory condition is achieved and continuing to build (or rebuild) your empire.

The soundtrack to Bionic Commando: Rearmed is a fantastic piece of work, a deft contemporary reworking of classic 8-bit NES tunes. In fact, it's so good that Capcom put it up for sale on the iTunes Store months ago to build hype for the game.

If you already own "ESPN NBA 2K4" basketball game, 2K5 is probably not worth the dough -- prettier graphics aren't enough. The $20 price tag puts it in reach of most everyone else, though.

Not since Blizzard unleashed "Brood Wars" on the "Starcraft" community has a developer put such a well-conceived effort into an expansion pack. Relic has rewarded the patience of its fans with an absolute must have add-on, and for any RTS fan that hasn't already picked up the original game...no more excuses.

This is like a Thanksgiving dinner of Tony Hawk. You're going to feel stuffed and ready for a nap afterwards, and some players may even refuse dessert.

The consistent rotation of gameplay styles keep the experience energized, and fleshing out your fellowship with two friends makes for some amazing couch co-op. Although the game may be lagging a bit mechanically, the gorgeous wonderment of the world makes Trine 2 an adventure well-worth embarking upon.

Simply put, inFamous is the kind of game that when I'm not playing it, I'm constantly thinking about doing so. Heck, I already know what's going to happen right after I finish this sentence: I'm going to go back and play more as "superhero lightning cop" Cole.

Extreme's wonderfully remixed gameplay comes at you in fluid, seamless waves that offer a surprising amount of freedom and replay value.

The Old Republic is far from perfect, but no game since World of Warcraft has offered a similar experience with such a wide appeal.

Built around utterly convincing physics and animation systems and a unique control scheme that's equal parts challenge and reward, it manages to be realistic without being discouraging and feels completely different from not only the competition, but from anything else out there.

Even if I find the multiplayer too staid, I find the possibility of cool user-made levels (via the easy map editor) tantalizing. Like any good Grand Theft Auto, Far Cry 2's overall package makes up for any individual flaws -- enough for it to be on a short list of best FPS games this year -- and so it's fitting to summarize it as...well, GTA: Mogadishu.

Upgraded graphics, some of the best ambient sounds in the business, a deep story, new additions for character customization as well as two new professions, tons of new monsters, items and zones and Funcom's above par customer service makes this game a must buy for anyone even remotely interested in MMO's.

The graphics and control system are almost worth the price of admission all by themselves -- it's rare to find a sports game have this much pick-up-and-play addiction in this age of sim-oriented titles.

If you're looking for a game that matches the quality of the previous games in the Ratchet franchise...well, keep looking.

This is clearly the best-playing FIFA game ever made, but that merely puts it above some of the most average-playing soccer games ever made. Even with the improvements, the game remains far too simple tactically.

With a thumping sound and sudden cloud of dust, grenades erase whole sections of houses. Bullets, however, stop dead in the thinnest wood slat. But what Bad Company needs isn't a trip to a real-life firing range -- it's its inflexible A.I. that requires the lessons.

Take the solid gameplay of Toadstool Tour, add in Camelot's talent for top-class GBA visuals and music, and throw in a story mode that beats the pants off many "real" RPGs, and you've got the best GBA game you'll see all this summer.

The single-player's a solid step forward from "Call of Duty 3," and the cooperative multiplayer should give the game some legs...but I just wish competitive multiplayer had grabbed me the way Modern Warfare's did.

With its roughly 10-hour campaign, new multiplayer, and additional units, the $30 price point feels just right for Chaos Rising.

The formula is as hectic and hilarious as it's ever been, and having it reside on a hard drive, ready for eight-player online action at any moment, makes it the perfect Live Arcade title.

If only it was a stable product and didn't ship with so many bugs, I would've given New Vegas a higher score.

The premise may be simple, but I found myself replaying levels over and over again to see how high I could get my score. Throw in the challenge mode (with objectives like getting a certain score with limited shots), and my OCD nature found a state of Zen.