It's a bit of an awkward comparison, but I see shades of "Ninja Gaiden" here: It's unassailably gratifying when the mechanics finally click and you start slicing and volleying your way to victory, but at the same time, it's prohibitive to folks who don't want to spend hours in the school of hard knocks, pursuing what should be a relatively uncomplicated act of learning the game's basic rules and logic.

Ultimately, as good a game as Kane's Wrath is, it's just better on PC -- you just won't get the complete experience with the 360 version.

Many new buildings (and new gameplay modes) are already available in free patches, so if you're not interested in Destinations' vacationing layer (which, to be fair, adds another honest-to-goodness challenge to the game), you don't really need to drop another 30 bucks -- unless you really, really missed that monster-attack disaster.

As good as the tactical and strategy elements are, frequent lockups, glitches, and a limited amount of crucial onscreen information hamper the overall package.

It doesn't feel like Guitar Hero. Sure, you get to press buttons in rhythm and watch an avatar bounce around the screen...but some major components are lost because of the platform. The DS certainly doesn't look or remotely feel like a guitar, and the songs -- though high quality -- just don't sound quite as awesome popping out over the system's tiny speakers.

Still, the big question remains: With Rock Band 2 coming to Wii in a matter of months, is this really the best time to ask people to buy a bunch of expensive peripherals that are on the verge of being bested by their next-gen counterparts? (While the first game's instruments will work with Rock Band 2, the sequel will come with new -- and improved -- peripherals.)

Online multiplayer amplifies everything that is good and bad about Fatal Inertia EX. Again, the combat is fun, and it's especially rewarding to pull off attacks on another human player.

A determined sea explorer can easily capture the bounty of the depths on film in an afternoon. Still, I enjoyed what I played and would definitely consider plopping down some cash for downloadable expansions (cave diving, please!).

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

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

Arkanoid is, at best, mindless -- as is any variation of Breakout -- but that also makes it one of the better time-wasters out there.

Ultimately, Secret Agent Clank just feels disjointed. Whereas developer High Impact Games' previous PSP effort, "Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters," played it safe with overly familiar levels and mechanics, this Clank spin-off squeezes a hodgepodge of half-baked concepts into the basic framework of a proper Ratchet & Clank game.

Block Breaker Deluxe is a little low rent, and it certainly doesn't take full advantage of the Wii hardware, but for eight bucks it's easy to overlook the cheesy decor and enjoy this solid brick-bashing entry.

But it says something about our hobby that even in a week when the biggest-budget, highest-tech game imaginable hits stores, there's a seemingly anachronistic, equally engrossing labor of love available from a minuscule, hardworking crew with just as much heart as Kojima's team.

The MGS4 conundrum is this: The further you play into the game, the less you actually play. Surrendering so much control to make way for movie sequences is galling, especially when the dialogue makes such a big deal about freedom and free will...Despite this gradual decay, though, MGS4 is absolutely a great game. The second half may lack sorely in comparison to the innovative, immersive brilliance of the first, but only because those early portions reach such inspiring heights.

A Wii game combining a clever shoot-em-up with a surprisingly rich (if reasonably limited) object editor that lets you create your own levels and scenes. If you've ever had the itch to make your own shooter but don't know a lick about programming, this is one of the best ways to go about it.

Everything in the game (art, dialogue, characters, etc.) is barely bargain-bin passable.

It's a shame that the actual boxing is so bad; with a little more time in development, Prizefighter could've been far more enjoyable. As it is, you'll need to take quite a few blows to the head to have much fun with this one.

Outside of challenging you to find that lone collectible item, the game doesn't hold much incentive for repeat play. No other modes are in the game at all -- no challenge levels, no minigames, nothing. With minimal replay value, repetitive levels, and little of LocoRoco's charm, it's hard to get too excited about a game that, while serviceable, is ultimately rather forgettable.

The action is intense, the off-track duties are compelling, and the overall game is rewarding. And it's definitely one of the first 360 racing titles to prove the standard Xbox gamepad is capable of accurately controlling this level of subtle-yet-complex driving. For that alone, EA should be congratulated.

If you love Dragon Ball Z -- like, love it to the point where tears run down your face as you stare at your Vegeta wall scroll -- then you'll love Burst Limit. Casual fans, like myself, will be impressed initially but ultimately let down by the fact that -- despite the new name -- this is still part of the Budokai family of fighters.

If you love Dragon Ball Z -- like, love it to the point where tears run down your face as you stare at your Vegeta wall scroll -- then you'll love Burst Limit. Casual fans, like myself, will be impressed initially but ultimately let down by the fact that -- despite the new name -- this is still part of the Budokai family of fighters.

The game's certainly on the short side (with just 18 total songs), but unlike many previous attempts to capitalize on Looney Tunes nostalgia, Cartoon Conductor's whimsical presentation actually matches up well with the fast-paced, familiar rhythm approach -- creating the rare licensed experience that may bring a legitimate smile to your face.

The game has one huge black eye: the forced commentary of "Jack Fouler." To call Fouler's "jokes" bland and corny is a compliment; the lazy, incompetent, and ultimately insulting writing is heard by the same audience that sees Pixar films, so why is it so far beyond lame?

A ton of side missions offer varying entertainment value, plenty of doodads to collect and power Hulk up with, and even a few cool alternate character skins for the green guy to wear. But I can't just quietly ignore the fact that a similar, but far better Hulk game (the best superhero game, for my money) sits on my shelf at home, and is readily available for anyone to track down.

A ton of side missions offer varying entertainment value, plenty of doodads to collect and power Hulk up with, and even a few cool alternate character skins for the green guy to wear. But I can't just quietly ignore the fact that a similar, but far better Hulk game (the best superhero game, for my money) sits on my shelf at home, and is readily available for anyone to track down.

"Ultimate Destruction" was on the PS2 as well, but it still had a beautifully rendered, detailed city that was fully visible from any rooftop -- and a blast to wreak havoc on. Instead of building on that better game, though, Incredible Hulk is a weak attempt at mimicking it.

"Ultimate Destruction" was on the PS2 as well, but it still had a beautifully rendered, detailed city that was fully visible from any rooftop -- and a blast to wreak havoc on. Instead of building on that better game, though, Incredible Hulk is a weak attempt at mimicking it.