As it stands, outside of its presentation, there isn’t much to write home about. For the newly enrolled, it’s a solid entry in a familiar and seldom changing formula, for veterans, you may as well skip this class.

Still, all in all, the fun racing action and the budget price tag incline us to recommend this game. It's a lot of fun and takes a good day of gameplay to conquer, making for a nice value-to-cost ratio.

A few Batmobile levels would help to break up the monotony. It's not a long game and it's not a very hard game.

There's nothing new or innovative to the genre here, but there is a lot to enjoy. The half-broken online play needs to be addressed before the series goes forward.

Though EA is doing all they can to create a realistic basketball sim, there are far too many blatant errors in their formula that make it far from perfect. The inclusion of new online features may not be enough to make up for repetitively frustrating mechanics.

Riptide is much like the zombies it portrays. It meanders about, bumping into everything, and occasionally it finds some meat to sink its teeth into. Then it slowly moves on to find the next scarce meal. Missing some parts, it shambles around, a mindless, and feral creation. Too bad.

Despite the criticism over when and how it was released, Versus Mode for Resident Evil 5 is a worthwhile investment for fans of competitive multiplayer gameplay who can see themselves playing online for hours to come. But, if you have already beaten Resident Evil 5 and put it on the proverbial shelf with all of your other conquests, I don't think Versus Mode is really worth pulling Resident Evil 5 out again, not to mention the $4.99 it costs to download.

It's not perfect, but it does offer some solid entertainment value despite some flaws.

If you're truly a fan, you'll want this in your collection. Others might find a rental would surely suffice to get their clobberin' time fix.

Mount & Blade's strong RPG elements, in-depth army management aspects, and amazingly addictive combat system balance out its mediocre quests and half-baked sandbox gameplay.

You can’t go wrong for the price, and this game is definitely worth adding to your collection, but preferably your PS3 collection.

Unfortunately, there might not be enough of any one thing to really satisfy casual fans and justify the asking price. Devoted purists will get their money's worth, but those just interested in a new set of missions might be let down when they burn through the campaign quickly.

A two-player co-op mode is a great addition. I played it with a friend of mine last night and I seemed to enjoy it much more than the one-player mode. Any Gauntlet fans are advised to try the co-op mode.

It's not a long game and the mutliplayer aspects won't elongate your enjoyment of the title by any stretch. At the end of the day it's just more Spider-Man and maybe that's enough for you.

It's not a fun-filled romp through a fantastic world - it's a test to divide the clever from the slow. Have fun, but all the same, buyer beware!

You can't go wrong for twenty bucks. You'll make that up in the two-player modes alone.

It was nice to have a brief but satisfying match while out and about.

If you have the option I would strongly suggest getting either the Xbox or the PC version. This game was designed for a more powerful system and while the PS2 certainly tries its best, Full Spectrum Warrior isn't all that it can be.

F&F is fun, popcorn entertainment, exactly what it intended to be.

Like having an arcade in your own home. Maybe not the best arcade in town but more like the cheesy one you might recall on the wrong side of the tracks next to the 24-hour bowling alley and laundromat.

Provides a few hours of beat-'em-up/shooting action encased in a well-presented if corny story. The Wii isn't exactly teeming with playable action titles these days, so it might be worth a shot when you finish The Conduit this month.

Just a darn good game unto itself... The framerate runs at an unbelievably smooth 60 fps and allows for some very fast and clean looking tracks.

Only you know how badly you want this game and if you could really care less about it one way or the other, I would suggest "the other."

What's good about the game is that it mixes in different gameplay elements. All of them work well and blend in seamlessly throughout the game.

This is one seriously disturbed game, but deep down in my heart I know I could have made it even more unholy if given the chance.

It's a very challenging game that is not recommended for the casual gamer - unless you want a real bad beating. Don't knock it, it's good for you.

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!

Definitely an improvement for the series. It’s pointed in the right direction, now all we have to do is make sure it gets there in time for the next version.

Some may consider this a novelty but the gameplay is really tightly aligned with the bongo drums. To play it without the drums would be like going to a 3D movie without the 3D glasses.

A refreshing change of pace although I know that many gamers will hate it due to its relative lack of action. Most of the action takes place in your imagination as you either read about it or hear tales from NPCs regarding past circumstances.

The human A.I. aren't all that intelligent, but what they lack in brains they make up for in resilience.

The linear nature of the gameplay ensures that you will be forced into the various scenes as the director and developer intended. The puzzles and mini-games are fun but they are like eating candy floss; there's not much nourishment.

The controls and the lack of a career mode and no multiplayer options do leave quite a bit to be desired, but all in all it is a very fun game that does a good job of recreating the fishing experience in your living room.

In the end, I feel like I’ll continue to struggle with how I truly feel about Wolfenstein: Youngblood. Its strange and uncomfortable structure, or rather my reaction to it, clearly stems from my love for the “normal” games. It isn’t more of what I loved; therefore, it’s scary. At the same time, some of those scary things are legitimate frustrations that seem to compromise the game to make it more gimmicky. It’s still as charming as ever, and is full of fun characters and dialogue, which makes it harder to really be disappointed. Wolfenstein: Youngblood comes off as a big experiment, and attempts to take something people like and do something new with it. I’m glad MachineGames was afforded the creative leeway to make it.

Imagine an old-school RPG with loads of action and dungeon crawling without any asinine anime kids with their sissy tales of woe. With Dungeon Lords it's treasures, monsters and slicing and dicing all the way - just like it was in the good old days.

It's blunt and silly, and that really describes the entire game. A popcorn flick of a Tom Clancy game if ever there was one.

Don't get this game for the variety of modes. Get it for the simulation.

It's not perfect, but it does offer some solid entertainment value despite some flaws.

It’s weird to feel so disappointed by something so awesome. DOOM Eternal is a constant state of whiplash between being in absolute awe at the game’s mechanical brilliance, only to be snatched in the extreme opposite direction by stale storytelling and environmental padding. I miss the gore nests, the simple but well-presented story, and sardonic overtones that made 2016’s DOOM such a big hit for me. The air-dashing, grappling, and tons of unlockable stuff is cool, and Doomguy’s personal quarters in his weird spaceship/castle gimmick is pretty funny. But while there’s nothing outright bad or poorly crafted in DOOM Eternal, the direction id Software chose to head here just reeks of AAA homogeny. The last game had teeth; DOOM Eternal feels like it sold out a little.

This is a sci-fi adventure game with a compelling storyline, interesting gameplay and nice visuals. For all intents and purposes it's an interactive movie with lots of control variables that allow you to really get into your character.

The old school difficult may turn a lot of gamers off, but the gameplay is solid and the power/appearance assimilation is fun.

Sadly, this is a good game, it's just not unique and there's very little you haven't seen before.

Beyond the Portals isn't a particularly long game and there's little reason to replay it; local and online multiplayer extend the life of this title if you really love the battle system.

No two games are same. This is one of the few GBA games that will actually give you an education while entertaining you at the same time.

It's certainly one of the best RPGs out there and there's no doubt that some novices will consider it the best RPG they've ever played.

The inclusion of both Ys I & II along with multiplayer functionality gives players a good bit to wade through. Although, the simplistic action-RPG mechanics aren't compelling enough for a second playthrough, even though multiple difficulty levels are offered.

This is sort of a mixed bag. Younger players will find lots to do here while more experienced players might find the career to be a bit tedious later on.

The story has lots of potential but unfortunately the game kind of loses sight of Red as it introduces several incidental characters forcing you to play through their perspective. Aside from adding some variety to the game it really detracts from the main storyline.

This is sort of a mixed bag. Younger players will find lots to do here while more experienced players might find the career to be a bit tedious later on.

The single player game will hold your attention and you'll get more mileage out of it if you play on the harder difficulty settings, but the real secret to milking everything out of this one is the online co-op mode.

Legacy is fairly linear and only takes a few hours, but has some nice loot and a few side quests to tackle.

Another year, another Live… and a little extra. At least Live Run might keep the online play interesting.

The atmosphere more than makes up for any shortcomings in the visual department. Communication with other players is easy and the sense of community is quite refreshing.

Thanks to some new mechanics tossed into an old (and some would say dying) genre, Geist delivers a FPS experence that you've never had before and that definitely counts for something.

Legacy is fairly linear and only takes a few hours, but has some nice loot and a few side quests to tackle.

One of the most refreshing games I've played all winter. I didn't say it was the best, but if you're getting a little bored of dungeon crawling, shooting and fighting, then consider Everblue 2 as your winter vacation.

Legacy is fairly linear and only takes a few hours, but has some nice loot and a few side quests to tackle.

I have to admit that the games are fun...Only the controls seem to be a bone of contention as some gamers have expressed that it's nearly impossible to play some of games without the actual phone-style controller.

There's less than an hour of play time, and most of that is cutscenes. For longtime fans, however, there's a lot to like, and it's free.

Even with its familiar feel and lack of innovation, it was moderately fun to revisit the shadowy, blood-stained corridors, experience the nightmarish hallucinations, and be creeped out again by Alma. But in a season offering bar-raising FPS experiences like Call of Duty 4, it's difficult to justify sinking your valuable game time--and money--into an experience that'll provide more nostalgic de ja vu than fresh fun.

The short missions, limited battle area, and muted visuals may turn some people off, but most will be satisfied with the swift, intuitive gameplay, the online versus, and the simple fact that they are controlling a giant mechanized robot.

There's nothing new or innovative to the genre here, but there is a lot to enjoy. The half-broken online play needs to be addressed before the series goes forward.

Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled feels a bit too derivative, obviously borrowing ideas from competitors. But it’s also the most distinctly challenging of the bunch, almost working best as a single-player endeavor rather than a fun, multiplayer party game. It’s hard to tell if there’s room for that, as Activision itself seemed to struggle with how to sell this one. Crash Bandicoot fans will certainly be happy, and are likely already on board. Those looking for a challenge will have a good time chasing trophies. Casual/Party players who like kart games probably will want to stick with Sonic and Mario.

A game with its fair share of problems. Bugs and technical issues are all too common and shouldn't be present in this capacity. The multiplayer, while fun at times, is difficult to get into and seems a little tacked on for a game in the FPS genre, where multiplayer is generally a primary focus. On the other hand, it is nearly unrivaled in creating a truly immersive and creepy setting.

One can't help but notice that the franchise has seen better days.

It's a combination of role playing and real time strategy that goes together like chocolate and peanut butter. In other words, it not only works, but it tastes great too.

Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition is easily the lesser of the two different versions of the game. It ditches some of what makes Drawn to Life so enjoyable, in favor of pandering to the kiddy crowd. The move is successful – any young SpongeBob fan is going to love this title – yet most gamers should do themselves a favor and just go with the original.

Don’t expect a lot of “play” out of it the first time through as you probably won’t want to work so hard to reach the coveted “S” ranking.

I suppose that ultimately, what counts in a Soulsborne or Metroidvania or action-RPGs is combat, action, bosses and exploration and in all these areas, Vigil: The Longest Night makes a pretty strong case for itself. It’s a great looking game with a dark and lush visual style and melee combat against some challenging monsters and human type enemies. A tighter story and less labyrinthian levels might make a very good experience even more compelling, but Vigil: The Longest Night will probably please fans of Salt and Sanctuary and those looking for a solid 2D Dark Souls-like game.

For those in the mood for an addictive low level puzzle game great for all ages, this will be a sweet tasting banana. [JPN Import]

The gameplay is simply not good enough to compete with the production values. The developers were unable to match Burton's creativity.

Burning Horizon has found a way to appeal to a wider audience while not alienating hardcore strategy fans. There's a lot to do and learn.

Hardcore soccer fans who wanted even more realism from this series will enjoy playing around with the new controls but if you're a player who thought FIFA 2005 wasn't a great game might as well rent this game or stay away from it cause you won't be missing much.

A sophomoric, and somewhat immature, romp in the style of "Girls Gone Wild" and The "Man Show." It's all about breasts - real breast. Not some teasing, anime-style bumbs, but real boobs on real broads displayed on full motion video (FMV).

It's more fun than I thought it would be.

It falls just short of the mark. We know its going to be gorgeous, and it is, but we expected to see something more than five hours of straightforward FPS gameplay, especially when the scares aren’t quite as good as we remember in the original.

It doesn’t feel like you are actually playing a new game in the franchise, rather it feels very much like you are playing an updated and expanded version of last year’s game.

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

Serious Nancy Drew followers won't be disappointed by her latest mystery adventure. Her Interactive is definitely on the right track, but there's still further to go to make this series shine to all but the most devout players.

The genre's classics were more fun, and you have to play irritating "demolition derbies" to progress through the single-player mode. Also, it's overpriced. But, it's more fun than nothing, which is the alternative unless you still have a 16-bit console lying around.

While snuggling up to a handheld video game system may still not be better than cuddling a real kitten, kids are a lot more likely to find success convincing their parents to let them take home a budget priced DS title like Animates over the real-deal.

The linear nature of the gameplay ensures that you will be forced into the various scenes as the director and developer intended. The puzzles and mini-games are fun but they are like eating candy floss; there's not much nourishment.

It's a decent little game but without a four-player mode it's only half as fun as it could be.

The single player game will hold your attention and you'll get more mileage out of it if you play on the harder difficulty settings, but the real secret to milking everything out of this one is the online co-op mode.

The music is just plain awful. It's tinny and repetitious. Take those headphones off, quick, lest you go berserk!

It's lovely and challenges gamers in an unusual way, but it is also hampered by an awkward (and possibly painful) control scheme and dropped frames.

The game is relatively easy to play but due more in part to the excellent control layout than the gameplay design.

For the most part the game is dry and flat. It fails to capture the excitement and decadence that one would imagine is prevalent at the Playboy Mansion... [But] It's a brilliant glimpse into the inner-workings of the Playboy empire and the industry that it has become.

Compared to last year's CSI game, Dark Motives is a definite improvement in every sense of the word. While many skilled gamers may find this game too easy it should be a real treat for fans of the TV that don't do much, if any, game playing.

It is not quite ready for the big time, but at least it is not the Sam Bowie of video games like "Live 07."

Thankfully, this industry cranks out more sequels than Hollywood, and we can definitely see an Insecticide follow-up living up to the full potential hinted at here.

As a casual styled Dark Souls type game, it’s quite fun.

While it has issues the game is a good football game complete with realistic fatigue and injuries. It certainly showed promise for the next version and sports games in general.

Madden NFL 21 is a game that is generally fine. It’s not extraordinarily exciting, sure. There are some minor additions that work well, like the Skill Stick, and major ones that could have promise after the growing pain patches are out, like The Yard. A lot of elements feel the same as they did last year, like Franchise and MUT, and Face of the Franchise shows there’s still a struggle to have a really good story mode. It’s okay, but people who have and are still enjoying Madden 20 might not feel a need to upgrade.

Would have been a great game if the co-op system weren't so damn buggy. It's a good idea but its execution is spotty.

Due to the enduring and challenging gameplay, Castlevania is certainly worthy of a purchase since it's doubtful an average gamer will complete it in a day or two.

I love pinball but I have to admit that after an hour of play I want to do something else. Just about anything else. But that's the way I feel about real pinball.

There are more levels, more enemies, more vehicles, more weapons and more missions than ever before. There's no better time to join the Special Forces than right now.