DESA should be given serious consideration by all parents looking for a good game for younger children whether for themselves or some good family competition, especially if you are a parent that can overlook the nefarious advertising.

Halo for the PC is everything that PC gamers want in a first person shooter, but a bit of a failure to those Xbox gamers waiting for the multiplayer.

A very good game – not explosive, it won’t turn the gaming world on its head. But it is incredibly easy to pick-up and play.

It’s the perfect melding of classic old-school gaming on the newest generation of video gaming consoles.

If you liked the Sims, Bustin’ Out is a great addition. Much of the series’ originality has lost its shine, but the mechanics and playability remain extremely good even though there’s not much in the way of plot.

A solid "racing" game with good entertainment value. It has solid pick-up and play control, wide-open levels, good graphics and multiplayer options, and the return of FMV!

A solid racer with good graphics and control, a well-integrated trick system, and provides a challenge. There are some downsides – lack of shortcuts, no stat modification, occasional frustrating AI – but they aren’t enough to sink the experience.

While TSBO isn’t a major overhaul to the original Sims (more of a "console expansion" if you will), it does however provide enjoyable game play coupled with never ending fun.

There’s a big list of spells, many details to track, loads of different units to recruit, train, and summon, a good level of challenge, an interface that doesn’t get in the way of playing the game, and a very intriguing end-game sequence.

The plot is full of fantasy cliches, so you can expect your fair share of dragons and lost princesses and Black Knights.

But its biggest flaw is the same as many 3D platformer games that are released today: there's nothing new or innovative in Vexx to make it stand out over many similar type of games.

Partnered with the excellent look of arenas is the aura that only comes with a frenzied crowd.

The most important aspect of playing this game is the technique – just driving in the correct lines is dreadfully difficult not to mention maintaining a straight line is dicey at best.

Despite Gothic II’s problematic inventory system, as well as its sometimes-difficult battles, it is still a very fun RPG.

A very fun wrestling game here loaded with style and bone crushing action. There are some annoying shortcomings to the game, but they certainly aren’t enough to irreparably hurt the game.

Instead of being the Mario challenger it could have been, the overall control, camera issues and the above-mentioned weak points of the game bring it down to good-but-not-good-enough status.

Black Arrow features enough improvements to keep you playing for a long time, albeit mostly online.

Feels like a new game when you compare it to previous Rayman games.

By far the biggest problem with Raw 2 is the audio. The menu music is solid, but everything else is horrendous.

I would highly suggest fans of the series to buy it even though the battle system is a little weak.

A nice, neon-enhanced glow sharpens the graphical package, and the colorful costumes of many of the game's characters alleviate the rather dull environmental visuals, above and below ground.

For hardcore strategy gamers Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth is a visual and aural feast but low on actual strategy since battles almost always descend into attrition.

New players to the genre might be put off by the learning curve and difficulty level, but if they stick with it (and practice) they will start to have fun. Serious players will like the chance to sink their teeth into a good turn-based game.

Outrun 2 may not be the best racer out there but the infusion of nostalgia, speed and fun make for a satisfying arcade racing experience.

The game runs beautifully at about sixty frames per second with no slow down. Lots of the environments are nicely detailed and well lit.

For short spurts Test Drive is pure racing joy. As you whiz your car in and out of traffic you feel like a god on his chariot, but unfortunately too often you come crashing back to earth after hitting something or having something hit you.

A great game with an accurate stat system, fluid animations, and plenty of depth to last a very long time. Although ASB doesn’t have the glamour and beauty MVP Baseball 2004 may have, the real beauty lies inside.

Phantasy Star Online is definitely not an Xbox Live gaming experience for everybody, although gamers who may be more adjusted to the traditional Final Fantasy-style RPG hit/miss combat system at the heart of PSO will enjoy it immensely.