"Fresh, unique, light-hearted, entertaining, creative." Any of these words apply to Herdy Gerdy, but sadly so do, "Frustrating, unruly, unresponsive and premature release."

Its rather repetitive mission dynamic and lackluster combat keep it from rising as a clear contender in its field.

To tell the truth, this whole product should have been a giant patch for F1 2000 rather than a standalone sequel.

In part, it is valuable enough for me just as a collection of gorgeous artwork and thoughtful story design. And for people more interested in concepts and beauty than gameplay, it is a work of excellence of seldom parallel. But as a computer game in the traditional sense, there is not enough there to sink one's teeth into.

Arguably the most cinematic shooter on the market, and though the gameplay is flawed in some respects, the lengthy, engrossing single-player campaign is still worth the price of admission. The offline multiplayer component can provide a few small kicks as well, but Xbox Live owners should beware, as online play is dodgy, to say the least.

Each aspect of Metal Arms illustrates the greatness of which the fledgling Swingin' Ape Studios is capable, but sadly, a number of faults keep the product as a whole from being outstanding.

Extremely effective in immersing you in the world of world domination and espionage, while maintaining a wonderful sense of humor... Nonetheless, the slow pacing, imperfect sense of direction, and extensive micromanagement can interfere with your enjoyment.

Despite a few shortcomings, such as a disappointing ending, a hard-to-read scanner, and a run-time glitch, Area 51 is ultimately a high quality title worthy of shooter enthusiasts' time and money.

A forthright and adolescent-minded FPS, embellished with technical fireworks of debatable value.

Newcomers will be treated to a title that’s superior to its predecessor in many respects, but also fails to improve on some of the first game’s faults.

World Driver Championship is a solid title with a lot of potential that's burdened by some design flaws and a driving model that will leave most players unsatisfied. Much as it offers a few new spins on an otherwise old formula, these shortcomings hold it back from true greatness.

Even if the visuals and sound aren't quite cutting edge, the gameplay is still solid, and that’s all that truly matters. K-1 is an absolute must for fans of the sport.

There's plenty of great stuff to be found in this offering, but it just doesn't feel like it's all been pulled together in a tight enough fashion.

For those of us with excess patience, though, the rewards could be great. Battlegrounds looks fantastic and sports a startling degree of replayable fun. Best of all, in establishing a wide beta tester program early on, Diversions Entertainment set the groundwork for a fanatically loyal player base that will be the key to success in the long run.

If you're willing to get frightened out of your wits, be grossed out along the way and feel like an icicle, The Thing will definitely not disappoint.

What we have here is an extension of the original with a much better and generally more compelling storyline. This does not detract from the amount of fun you can potentially have with this title.

Its updated graphics and method of control breathes some new life into a well-worn building-conquest genre, even if the mission types are the same as most other RTS titles on the market.

Basically the same old product with a few new bells and whistles. Nobody is calling that a bad thing.

As an atmospheric "Devil May Cry" knockoff, Van Helsing is a notable success, despite the fact that the experience is only marginally longer than the movie’s running time.

There is a sense of constant improvement in strategy as you learn new tricks either by having them pulled on you or through experimentation.

It's equipped with tons of powerful adventuring tools, such as a newly designed 3D engine and free-floating camera, and contains one of the most riveting endings I've seen all year. But ultimately I wish it had offered me more.

Fundamental flaws unjustly hamper the gameplay, and the lack of support for many USB wheels is nothing short of devastating.

Possesses the single most important quality for a game: it’s fun. Controlling my party of characters to victory over the hordes of enemies that would flood the screen was a blast. Yes, there was a large amount of repetition, but I found myself faithfully returning to the game to move to the next area, or to achieve the next goal.

Should be a hands-down epic masterpiece but is unfortunately tarnished by a litany of problems that should have been addressed before its release. If it wasn’t so doggoned much fun to play, it would be easy to write off because of its betimes infuriating downsides.

The unbearably monotonous levels, by themselves, easily killed it for me.

The offering does well with what it chooses to present, but it should have incorporated a more multifaceted play experience. Going back to try to get gold medals can only keep you going for so long. Nonetheless, the pure thrill of frenetic combat, interspersed with the humor, makes this title well worth trying.

A flawed but rewarding experience seems to be the average diagnosis for most of the current crop of FPS releases, and Vietcong is no exception.

While the ability to purchase new vehicles by completing challenges isn’t an original idea, it’s executed to near perfection. Admittedly, poor artificial intelligence, sometimes-awkward controls and a fairly small selection of vehicles all keep the game from rivaling titles such as Project Gotham Racing 2, but Evolution is an fine title nonetheless.

Interface problems, relatively brief and inconclusive gameplay, repetitive backtracking, and uneven puzzles detract from your enjoyment.

While the gameplay here is still incredibly engaging, if you have the first release there is no really compelling reason to upgrade.

This title deserves strong consideration if you're willing to put style over substance and overlook a few flaws.

It’s just difficult to wholeheartedly recommend a title that has a mere five or six hours of game time, and no real incentive to play through again.

You must have patience and be excited about non-structured gameplay in order for it to be worth the price of admission. Action hungry thrill-mongers will do themselves a favor by steering clear of this one.

While few titles will ever again brutalize the player as "Shinobi" did, the still relatively high level of difficulty coupled with refinements and improvements to the gameplay should make Nightshade a keeper for fans of the series.

A good title if you’re serious about your strategy games. Casual strategic commanders and those that think the sun rises and sets over "Age of Mythology" and the like probably won’t see the draw or attraction.

Everything that surrounds the gameplay is strongly polished, but when you're battling, everything beyond your bot will be visually disappointing.

Having little interest in the subject material of this title, I found that I was not terribly compelled by the story line...I found a majority of the animation to be uninteresting, which certainly detracted from the title.

The single-player campaign does a great job of going against the build-a-base-and-kill-everything grain that is the stock-and-trade of the RTS scene. Plus, it infuses some inspired missions into the mix, keeping you interested and coming back for more.

Somehow, Fur Fighters manages to slip through the shackles that should be binding it to mediocrity, rising instead to become an engrosing game.

With a superb story, three challenging modes of gameplay, plenty of side quests and missions that can climb to almost an hour apiece, Drakengard could easily consume up to 50 hours of one’s time.

There's not enough new content here to justify a standalone release.

Additional equipment and spells are nice, and the characters are now much more versatile, but design and pacing problems abound.

A very entertaining piece of software in its own right. The need to pick up and use heavy weaponry, but at the same time be required to have some semblance of driving skill is quite welcome in my small collection of such titles.

The tactical wargame that remains, however, is simplistic and underdeveloped.

The organization-heavy gameplay and the delightful animal theme are its two most outstanding areas.

While Septerra Core is certainly not ground breaking, it does possess the potential to convert some console gamers over to the PC. Hardcore CRPG fans however, will most likely be disappointed with the linearity and limited challenge.

For an avowed lover of the 2D scrolling space shooter, Steel Saviour is an answer to prayers. With mesmerizing graphics and audio, an intuitive control system, rapid-fire gameplay, and even a solid background story, this release definitely delivers on what it promises.

If what you’re hoping for is an intense and challenging shooter that harkens back to the classics, with lots of interesting monsters and a few wrinkles added in the form of special abilities, then you’ll be largely satisfied by what you find.

Not as good as "Blade Runner," but about on the same level as "Spycraft." In other words, its better than most adventure games on the market today.

If you are looking for a deep story-driven experience with lots of innovative twists parallel to the latest non-handheld computer and console releases, then you are doomed to disappointment and should not purchase this title.

Splendid graphics and sound effects, with a wide set of vehicles and tuning capabilities and cleverly-designed racing settings...Yet deficiencies in gameplay, artificial intelligence, collision implementation, and even music prevents this title from being the spectacular release that it should have been.

The mysteriously dangerous supernatural atmosphere effectively absorbs you into the story and keeps you riveted until the end.

What really makes this game rise above its mediocre brethren is not merely the flashy graphics or mildly dramatic storyline. Far Gate stands out amongst a host of independent titles as being one of the few that shows a dramatic effort towards entertainment rather than a quick profit.

Despite a few small design quirks, this is one release I found I just could not stop playing from the moment it was installed on my hard drive. I heartily recommend it to all of you who want an adrenaline rush of the highest order.

If you can look past the control problems and remember that few modern fantasy stories are truly original, "Soulbringer" is an amusing detour into a rich and vibrant world, worthy of a spot on the shelf of any RPG aficionado.

There are a lot of fresh components laboring to make this a different game, including the engine, but the end result is not at all frightening. Too much emphasis was placed on puerile humor, which I am all for in most games, but I needed something different here.

The storyline isn't all that interesting, particularly considering the complete lack of relevant plot for the first half of the game. All in all, the good outweighs the bad, but not by much.

Aggressive, forward thinking and fun, but repetition soon dulls those virtues.

Despite its brevity and sadistic humor, you receive an odd sense of satisfaction when your pranks work. Although hardcore gamers might find this title a bit beneath their level of sophistication, most who enjoy electronic recreation will find this release quite fulfilling.

Though the plotline is somewhat lackluster, the intricacies of building up your army between your different islands and keeping track of unit management and combat tactics all while the clock continually ticks down is exciting and entertaining.

The generally high production values combined with the unending series of coherent brain-stretching enigmas make this worth a serious look.

The longevity of this title is nearly unmatched by any other RPG save the online crowd, and players from the old-school crowd of role-playing will feel immediately at home.

All in all, Metal Fatigue is a great variation on an all-too-common theme, and will surely provide hours of high-energy robot-smashing fun to anyone willing to see past its minor flaws.

For its audience of hardcore sim flyers, Warbirds III is quite a solid game, and probably worth the monthly investment for those who can afford it.

Less is more in the case of Sonic Heroes, as convoluted exploration concepts are abandoned in favor of pure speed and exhilaration.

The visual, aural, and control limitations of the original are becoming more and more obvious as the series continues.

A must-buy for World War II buffs or those who want a straightforward and realistic RTS that demands tactical prowess and no city management skills whatsoever.

This title falls short of being a blockbuster simply because it doesn't offer enough. There isn't enough play variety and not nearly enough tracks.

Gameplay lurches between the exultation of easy victory and the frustration of arbitrary defeat after hours of effort. Enigma: Rising Tide's slowness of movement and action only throws its pleasures and miseries into sharp relief.

While there are minor deficiencies, such as an over-dependence on timed sequences, a short duration, occasional tediousness, and an absence of novelty, this well-scripted and audiovisually pleasing title has assets that make you forget about these limitations.

The ability to change your landscape and building types as well as the ability to create your own buildings and scenarios are not only fantastically entertaining but add a near-infinite replayability factor to the experience.

A fun and frenzied shooting romp, but -- as a longtime fan of the franchise -- beneath my expectations.

Evil Islands does not present a very novel gameplay experience...But the excellent polish of the overall product, with particularly strong graphics, music, and artificial intelligence, makes it more than worth a look.

The graphics and music are still great, showing great polish and attention to detail, but the story and gameplay are a bit of a letdown. What is missing here is the diversity and twists and turns, as well as the mystery, complexity, and enchantment of the outstanding original.

There is enough entertainment value for veterans to easily justify the budget price tag. Sadly, the near impossibility of many of the missions makes Unfinished Business something best left to experienced players.

With its incredible graphics, fulfilling gameplay, and thought provoking features, World War III is bound to satisfy any RTS buff, and anyone just on the lookout for a good, solid title as well.

With the style of game being more action and side scrolling then RPG makes it playable on it's own regardless of having even seen the original, however I was feeling alienated as the story just throws you in; no major introduction or conclusion.

It's simply too easy, even on higher difficulty levels, and suffers from a "thrown-together" feeling of being rushed to meet a movie deadline.

Fraught with inconsistencies and potholes. Although it is a satisfactory, basic RPG, it is nowhere near the level of excellence that it should be.

If you take the time to fully understand its mechanics and enjoy the menu-based format, then SaGa will prove to be a unique, rewarding experience. As the alt text for this section says, only hardcore fans need apply.

Cute and charming in a macabre way. The opportunity for reaping rewards from the creative premise is, however, largely squandered. The control problems are almost enough to sound the death knell by themselves, and other issues of balance or polish also interfere with player enjoyment.

You can buy gear, place bets on games, get tattoos and haircuts, but when it comes to actually playing ball, the title fails to deliver.

The graphics and score are outstanding, but ultimately, the gameplay falls flat with heavy-handed mechanics and tedious goals.

The imbalance between the pace of the stalking compared with the near impossibility of the hunt once you actually spot a creature makes the gameplay more of a chore than anything else.

With a very large galaxy populated by unique aliens, an interesting non-linear storyline, lots of great visuals, and interesting gizmos to upgrade your ship with, X during the first few sessions can be a joy to play. Poor design choices, and repetitive actions, keeps X from being as memorable and fun as Elite was.

Little more than a standard run and gun shooter with a few innovative features that aren't pulled off well.

Making the gameplay more "realistic" actually averages out to something that's just a tad boring.

In a short period of time I realized that the problems with hidden objects, irritating action sequences, and extremely brief gameplay keep this title from getting anywhere near its potential.

While P.N.03 does provide some solid shooting action, the incredibly repetitive levels and unintuitive controls significantly detract from the experience.

It’s a noble attempt at a solid strategy / action hybrid, but Defender of the Crown feels more like an amalgamation of disjointed gameplay elements than a single, coherent experience.

An uncomplicated and readily accessible approach to experiencing the colorful lives of swashbuckling buccaneers on land and at sea. However, the similarity of the challenges, linear scenarios, substandard sound effects, and deficient artificial intelligence definitely constrain the enjoyment you will experience here.

Video games are meant to be entertainment, but I found Body Harvest to be more of an effort in patience than anything else. Although Midway should be commended for trying to create a hybrid RPG/shooter game, the ultimate result is somewhat boring.

The short life span of the single-player campaign and the lack of any outstanding features make this offering falter when compared to other first-person shooters like "Halo" and "Timesplitters 2."

The appeal of over-the-top effects, non-interactive finishing moves, and buxom ladies has a short expiration date. If you're a fan of the franchise, then this is the best Roar yet.

Not being exclusively wedded to any particular genre - and being tolerant of the inevitable compromises forced in a hybrid - is an absolute prerequisite for enjoying this offering.

Though there are minor problems with the graphics system, control scheme and interface, the primary drawback is that an experienced player can fly though it in around three hours and thirty minutes.

Between the lack of a save game feature, the ridiculous level of difficulty and the clunky controls, the much-hyped Dogs of War is toppled from its pedestal to become the one thing that it seeks to avoid: a decidedly average and utterly forgettable offering.

Full of dramatic flair and humor, but the truth is that when the humor gets old the gameplay grows stale quickly.