a great handheld racing game. Compared to Race Driver, it's more like an expansion pack. It's very similar, although more refined. But if you haven't played the original, this is the one to get.

It's a fairly simple game in terms of control, but there is some depth to it and plenty of replayability.

Unlocking different vehicles and tracks for the multiplayer provides some incentive to push onward, but there's not much past that.

Rock Blast isn't a decent game for its originality - it has little. It's a good game because it successfully apes the gameplay mechanics of Bust-A-Move, Snood, and other similar titles.

B-Boy is an average looking game despite the hundreds of motion-captured moves. The characters are bland looking and the environments look blocky and dated.

A real clunker.

Some events are decent; others are downright terrible. Multiplayer can be okay, but the learning curve is too steep for the title's intended audience.

Though the presentation is tight, the gameplay is quite dated and repetitive, and at $10 (and 300 blocks of Wii memory) it's no bargain.

All these features and ultimately the exciting, addictive, and utterly entertaining gameplay make this game deserving of a high score.

A must buy for dual-stick shooter fans. The sharp difficulty, new modes, and low price point ($10) add up to a game that's hard to turn down.

A great addition to the franchise. There's a good amount of play modes, excellent character customization options, a strong character roster, smooth (though intricate) controls, and exciting online play.

A great addition to the franchise. There's a good amount of play modes, excellent character customization options, a strong character roster, smooth (though intricate) controls, and exciting online play.

I enjoyed Spectral Force 3 when I first started it up. I liked the old school tactical gameplay, and I was excited to see where it went. However, I was sorely disappointed when this game ended up going nowhere.

City Life is a quality simulator that can easily absorb hours upon hours of your time if you let it. If you're a fan of city-building sims, there's no excuse for letting this one pass you by.

A great sports title and really succeeds because it provides a deep and rewarding experience for serious sports gamers, but it also provides a fun and casual experience for those who just have basic knowledge of the sport and want to have some fun playing baseball.

Good, simple baseball is fun for parties and special occasions, though it becomes a bit repetitive when played solo for extended periods of time.

A pretty awesome horror game. The game's focus on story and substance rather than just shooting zombies really makes this one worth picking up if you are getting a little bored with your run-of-the-mill horror shooters.

The core gameplay - established by the first game - is still here and shines. Joint Strike's short length is bolstered by its difficulty, but it's hard to see gamers coming back for repeated solo player; co-op is the most impressive feature of this update.

Mister Slime features some cool control ideas and a few innovative gameplay elements. Unfortunately, it can be a struggle to stick with the gameplay for extended periods of time; there's little actual excitement to be had, since the slow pace plods on steadily.

Joint Strike's short length is bolstered by its difficulty, but it's hard to see gamers coming back for repeated solo player; co-op is the most impressive feature of this update.

I found myself extremely bored by the oversimplified gameplay and poor technical aspects.

But you see, for all its strengths and adherence to traditional dungeon crawling gameplay, Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns fails simply because it is so familiar.

With frustrating gameplay, a very short and linear experience, and no multiplayer or unlockable modes/levels to speak of, TotDE gives players no reason to keep playing.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is a text-book example of a rushed movie tie-in that does nothing for either the movie or the gaming industry. Leave this Mummy in its wrapper.

Get beyond poor controls and there's a lot to unlock and do here.

I really enjoyed Order Up! It had everything I had hoped for and was surprisingly fun. Unfortunately, it is just a single-player game with forgettable mini-games that can be torn through in just a few hours.

If I could say one thing about Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity, it would be that it's has to be one of the most formulaic games I've ever seen.

One of the most formulaic games I've ever seen.

A real gem of an RPG. The new DS version is definitely the best way to enjoy the title and should provide fans with hours of fun.

There just isn't enough to this title to make it worth 1000 points, and if you need a frenzied shooter fix, you could do a whole lot better than Pirates: The Key of Dreams.

Simple and intuitive controls mix perfectly with its appealing and approachable cartoony look to perhaps make We Love Golf the best, non-simulation links experience available on the console.

Just the next game in a long line of great games. If you are content with the version you already have, then there isn't enough staggering new content to warrant an upgrade. However, this is the best game in the franchise to date, and I'm glad I made the switch.

Just the next game in a long line of great games. If you are content with the version you already have, then there isn't enough staggering new content to warrant an upgrade. However, this is the best game in the franchise to date, and I'm glad I made the switch.

A weak attempt at making college football more accessible to the much-exaggerated, casual Wii demographic. Most players will find this game utterly dull and a waste of their time and money. This is a title that should only be purchased for very young gamers.

Spanning double the length of its on-screen counterpart, Space Chimps is a brief, albeit fun romp.

While this Space Chimp's platforming is fairly solid, its linear nature and numerous problems succeed in removing any enjoyment that could possibly be derived from this movie tie-in.

As it is, I can only recommend a rental based on the relative short gameplay and replay value.

Its story, while not being complicated or particularly mysterious, remains fun and interesting enough to see you through to the end, which is saying something because it isn't what many would consider to be a short game. What Capcom has produced isn't the pinnacle of console-to-PC quality, but it isn't anything to be laughed at either.

An exquisite experience for strategy junkies. PC purists may turn up their noses at it, but I dare them to play through multiplayer with a pair of headsets on and not get giddy.

An exquisite experience for strategy junkies. PC purists may turn up their noses at it, but I dare them to play through multiplayer with a pair of headsets on and not get giddy.

The fact that you can have fun with this game on your own terms and on your own time is great, but the title does this without sacrificing any of the classic Civilization gameplay so many people have come to know and love.

An excellent and surprisingly deep game. This title does an excellent job of walking the fine line between being a Final Fantasy title and a dungeon crawler and gets the formula just right.

Beijing 2008 doesn't escape from the stereotypical Olympic Games video game mold – it's a series of some good and bad mini-games that, while somewhat fun with others, don’t amount to much entertainment.

Beijing 2008 doesn't escape from the stereotypical Olympic Games video game mold – it's a series of some good and bad mini-games that, while somewhat fun with others, don’t amount to much entertainment.

Almost every aspect of the game, from premise to execution, is highly derivative and substantially lacking. The for-the-whole-family appeal is certainly present, but your money is better spent taking the gang out to experience the real thing.

A solid first-person shooter marked by exceptionally smooth multiplayer support. Plus, the community of players that gamers who purchase the game will be joining is outstanding.

Bowling is fun for a few rounds, but it doesn't take long for repetition to set in.

A pleasant surprise. The gameplay could use a little spice (some form of combat or other elements would liven things up nicely), but it's an impressive game - both visually and in terms of the expansive sci-fi universe laid out before you.

Despite some really nit-picky problems, Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 is a fun, frantic game that's worth trying. Regardless of what type of gamer you are, you owe it to yourself to try out the madness that is Trauma Center. Once you start playing, you'll be a hooked.

With its appealing cartoony visuals, funny political satire, and collection of humorous unlockable videos, Hail to the Chimp isn’t a complete bust. If it didn’t suffer from overly repetitive gameplay, ridiculously unbalanced A.I., and had a bit more variety, this game honestly could have been a lot more fun.

Ducati Moto is definitely recommended for fans of bike racing of all levels. Even those with no interest in the genre should at least try their hand at this game, as it's really beginner-friendly. Your skills will increase as you play, and you can actually cultivate your own style through skill development and the upgrades that you purchase.

Some elements of the game are playable but not all. Overall, it's too inconsistent.

With its appealing cartoony visuals, funny political satire, and collection of humorous unlockable videos, Hail to the Chimp isn’t a complete bust. If it didn’t suffer from overly repetitive gameplay, ridiculously unbalanced A.I., and had a bit more variety, this game honestly could have been a lot more fun.

Thankfully, the inclusion of master tracks and a slick menu interface means that this title sounds and plays exactly how it ought to.

Thankfully, the inclusion of master tracks and a slick menu interface means that this title sounds and plays exactly how it ought to.

The group's music is a great fit for the gameplay.

The game isn't very challenging or long, so you can just rent it. But whatever you do, get your hands on it and start strumming!

As long as you realize you'll be getting only a few hours of dumb fun out of the deal, blasting away at home and online is a riot.

All in all, Hellboy: Science of Evil is a pretty intolerable game.

All in all, Hellboy: Science of Evil is a pretty intolerable game.

Fans of Hellboy likely won't find this game to be a complete disappointment, although it honestly could have been much better. With its repetitive and sluggish gameplay, fairly short completion time, bad camera, lackluster cinematics, and complete lack of voice work, I would definitely caution eager fans to play the game before purchasing it.

Strategy-RPG fans will ignore the game's shortcomings and find much to praise, but this isn't a game that's going to rope in those who aren't already fans of the particular genre.

The story is charming but ironic at the same time. Lighthearted humor is served throughout, making WALL-E one of the most fun kids’ games an adult can play.

The story is charming but ironic at the same time. Lighthearted humor is served throughout, making WALL-E one of the most fun kids’ games an adult can play.

If you are a fan of the WALL-E film and don’t mind a somewhat easy and repetitive experience, this game should be right up your alley.

The production values are impressive on the DS, the puzzle adventuring is fun and clever, and the game has quite a unique vibe. But, there isn’t much variation at all in either the look of the game or the gameplay itself, and the repetition weighs down the experience substantially.

With elements of science fiction, comedy, awesome graphics, and entertaining animations throughout the game, WALL-E is definitely a fun experience for anyone who enjoys the odd carefree children’s title.

Although Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress is a really fun title to play, those who played the first Ultimate Ninja Heroes might feel the gameplay is starting to get a little stale, as this title doesn't really expand upon the gameplay in the same way as its console cousins have, and veteran players will probably be a little let down by how similar this title feels to its predecessor.

It is a great crossover title and has appeal both as an Ivalice adventure and as a full-throttle tactics title.

A fun title that should please many gamers. The game is not devoid of its fair share of problems though. Most prominent are the boring load times, constant frame rate issues, and somewhat challenging controls.

No matter how hard you try, you're going to have trouble having fun with Star Force 2. It does a number of things right, but sadly its battle mechanic is too huge a problem to overlook.

No matter how hard you try, you're going to have trouble having fun with Star Force 2. It does a number of things right, but sadly its battle mechanic is too huge a problem to overlook.

Folks whose interest piques upon hearing the words “political simulator” and missed the original would do well to give the 2008 edition a shot.

Obviously, Alone in the Dark didn't come close to living up to expectations.

Despite the numerous obtuse moments, the interesting story should keep you playing at least a little while.

Controls and presentation in Bad Company are phenomenal. It is incredibly easy to switch between weapons and items.

Definitely one of my favorite games of the year. It's not entirely perfect, but it is thoroughly enjoyable. If you've found yourself stuck in a gaming rut, I'd suggest combating it with a little levity and a great story.

Virtua Tennis fans need not apply; this is tennis done more accurately...for better or worse. The game may not serve up an ace, but it makes for a solid set.

Virtua Tennis fans need not apply; this is tennis done more accurately...for better or worse. The game may not serve up an ace, but it makes for a solid set.

The solid, single-player campaign, multi-tiered Kane's Challenge, Skirmishes, and online play make for well-rounded gameplay options.

As long as you can stomach the lengthy and repetitive events found within, Top Spin 3 serves up some great tennis action complete with good controls, decent visuals, and difficult A.I. opponents.

The game stood tall and proud on PC, but this port (with its underlying technical issues and wonky controls) doesn't translate the original's epic nature.

Unfortunately, if the Wii version of AITD is any indication as to where this series is headed, then nostalgia may be all that is left for its many fans.

Alone in the Dark can be played in a day. You can actually skip levels if you get too frustrated, but you can save a lot of frustration by just skipping the game entirely.

Gyrostarr is pretty, simplistic, and straight-forward.

It's awesome to be able to play Guitar Hero wherever you are, the song list is nice and varied (though too short), and the gameplay is almost perfect. The only downsides are you may get some serious tendinitis in your wrist if you play for too long, and the game feels like you're playing Guitar Hero rather than an actual guitar, which is the biggest attraction for the console counterparts.

The Wii version is not perfect, but the game is easily as enjoyable and addictive as it is on other consoles.

A game that fans of the series will appreciate simply because it allows them to play though the final season of their favorite TV show. But if you are looking for an exhilarating game to accompany the style and the story, you will be very disappointed.

Fatal Inertia EX is reminiscent of a top-shelf, budget-priced kart racer. It doesn't pretend to be more, and that I can live with.

Overall, I really loved playing Elements of Destruction. Destroying things using the weather is a delightful concept and makes for some seriously destructive fun.

While everything basically works as it should, steering is still made difficult by a mixture of poor camera angles and claustrophobic tracks.

Wacky Racers is still a better cartoon than a game. Crash and Dash is proof of that.

In theme, premise, and execution, the classic Space Invaders is an archetypal cliché. Space Invaders Extreme recognizes this, and it succeeds where other revivals have failed because it isn't concerned with what Space Invaders was, nor does it try to imagine what Space Invaders would be had it been imagined today. Instead, Extreme looks at what Space Invaders is; what it means to all of us.

The game runs smoothly in single or two-player mode. It manages to use the PSP's screen to good effect so that everything is easy to see. However, you may want to turn off the distracting, undulating background.

Arkanoid DS is an excellent handheld title that will resonate with casual gamers, arcade aficionados, and nostalgic gamers. Some may find the gameplay mechanic to be repetitive and even dull, but the majority of gamers should be pleased with the quick, intuitive play and multiplayer options.

Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm could have been a very good game if the developers would have sped up the action and further fleshed out the game's more cerebral portions. Unfortunately, the game gets caught between simulation, strategy, and action, and it doesn't pull any of them off.

Even though everything sounds like a hodge-podge Ratchet & Clank adventure, I enjoyed the variety and appreciated the less combat-oriented gameplay.

Concocting cool critters is incredibly addictive, and the ability to save any and all of your beasts for future use in the game is pretty awesome.