Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 is good - but it's not great.

Combat is fun, although it can get really repetitive, and the platforming offers some excitement. Beyond that, Kung Fu Panda offers some depth as well as some enjoyable multiplayer.

It would have been nice to see the franchise branch out a little, but if you just can’t wait to get back into the Dynasty Warriors groove, you’ll find plenty to enjoy with Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires.

It's just disappointing that the rest of the game doesn't live up to the quality of the cutscenes.

Metal Slug 7 is a very good game full of crazy action, great graphics, smooth animations, and a definite challenge. The only problem is that there is so much missing from this package. No multiplayer, no leaderboards, no branching paths, and only seven story missions won’t keep you coming back even with the additional eighty training levels.

There's no use mincing words. Commandos Strike Force is a dumbed down version of the Commandos series. It's more accessible, more forgiving and for the right player it can be a whole lot of fun.

When you get down to it, Conquest feels more like a cousin to the series than a true follow-up. It certainly leans towards the traditional side of the genre with more of an emphasis on battle than on construction and micromanagement.

Aspiration got the best of this title - it ultimately promises more than it delivers.

Kane and Lynch reeks of an undercooked effort that should've baked a few more months in the development oven. If the care and polish that went into the wonderfully cinematic level presentation had also been applied to the writing and gameplay, it could've been a bar-raising effort for the third-person shooter genre.

Tales of Xillia 2 is most notable for its unusually dark storyline and strong character development. It's only truly worthwhile when played as a sequel, however, and is dragged down by poor design decisions.

Splinter Cell is a game that has pushed the envelope of the next-gen consoles. To release this game on a handheld is to have that envelope pushed back with "Return to Sender" marked on it.

It's not that there isn't a lot to do. It's that there isn't a whole lot of reason to do most of it, and what is worth doing is locked behind hours of dull, introductory gameplay.

It's not that there isn't a lot to do. It's that there isn't a whole lot of reason to do most of it, and what is worth doing is locked behind hours of dull, introductory gameplay.

Although Clash of Ninja Revolution is certainly a playable game, its main fault lies in the fact that it hasn't really changed since last year's iteration or even since its GameCube days.

Endless Ocean is definitely an interesting experience. Whether you will enjoy it or not really depends on the kind of gamer you are. If you really enjoy action, plot, intense gameplay or objectives, you will most likely not want to even attempt to try this title.

Ultimately, the problem with this title is the same as other Dynasty Warriors titles: lack of substance. Though there are some improvements over Dynasty Warriors 6, it’s just enough to make this a standout title.

If you're a NASCAR fan, then you'll probably really like this game for the detailed tracks, driver roster, and stock car specific racing features. If you're anybody else, you'll probably be bored and give up due to the learning curve.

For a budget title, things could certainly be a whole lot worse. It's worth a rental at the least, and if you can find some online play then you might just want to consider purchasing it. It's fun, challenging, captivating, diverse – and cheap.

RTS fans might find it a little simple, but might find the emphasis on action a pleasing surprise. Action fans might find the strategy a little dull, but with the simplicity of the commands they'll find themselves in the thick of the action as often as they like.

The festival mode and dream events provide some good variety and playtime, but it would have been nice to be able to compete against other players online.

With so many characters and cutscenes to unlock, it's a shame that repetitive and often head-scratching objectives cause boredom and discouragement.

You get a lot of game for $15, but a ho-hum presentation and antiquated gameplay counterbalance the actual value of the package.

Unfortunately, it is pretty easy to beat, and as a result there will only be about 10 hours of fun in the initial play through. The simple game mechanic is not excellent, but it is good enough to go back and beat it several more times.

But gameplay is no better this year than it was last year and everything else is quite poorly done.

A lackadaisical approach to the hack-and-slash role playing genre. Nevertheless, there are enough bright moments to overlook the game's several detriments, which include mediocre visuals, a poor camera, a confusing synthesis system, and an uneven difficulty.

It's a good diversion for an evening but it won't have any lasting appeal.

ABBA does not seem like an artist that the gamer audience can really identify with, and that is this title’s biggest weakness. However, if you can’t wait to belt out “Dancing Queen,” “Fernando,” and “Take a Chance on Me,” then SingStar ABBA will hit all the right notes.

Ragnarok Odyssey ACE provides almost double the content of the original and adds some successful new features, but fails to fix all the problems. Overall, it likely won't change the position of fans or critics.

A decent shooter with a gimmick that sets it apart. Without the time shifting abilities, TimeShift would have been a less than mediocre shooter, especially considering some of the amazing FPS games that it has to compete with. The time manipulation gimmick makes TimeShift an enjoyable if forgettable experience.

I myself enjoy a casual, east to play game every once in a while. But if you're looking for a hard-hitting, cutting-edge RPG that will have you fighting bosses and strategizing until the early morning hours, then I suggest you look elsewhere.

The game is not intrinsically awful; it's a severely acquired taste rooted a little too heavily in tradition for its own good.

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

It's certainly easier to read the cards and access the interface than on the PSP or DS.

There's not much depth here. This game is likely to be abandoned after a few breakthroughs. It'll give a group a lot of fun before it stops though.

The gameplay took a hit since the last installment, but the storytelling is still superb.

As a fan of the Norrath series, I hope SOE can salvage this mess for future releases because this simply doesn’t cut it, especially on the dawn of the next-gen console race.

While the annoying whine of the vehicles is pretty accurate, the crowd noise is sparse and artificial-sounding. Worst of all, the pop-metal that loops in the background is enough to make you want to huck your PSP against a wall.

I've played worse games than Fracture, but it's certainly not one I'd ever recommend. As it turns out, the core concept of terrain deformation is more of a gimmick than a fully fleshed out feature, and the rest of the shooter mechanics are painfully subpar.

The mini-games aren't addictive enough. It's more of a daily exercise for those with enough willpower to follow through.

To say this game is easy would be an understatement. It's presented as an arcade game rather than a hunting sim, and truth be told, I prefer it this way.

If you are looking for a title to suck up about 15-20 hours of your gaming life, then where better to look than the title that really sparked the life sucking genre of RPGs.

Offering little in the way of new features or modes, those who already own previous Madden installments won't find much reason to purchase this otherwise great title.

If you aren’t interested in learning the fine points of micro economics, then Scarface will likely bore you after three or four hours. The menu-based gameplay lacks the personality that you might expect from a Scarface title, and the game becomes elementary after you figure out the system.

A fun and relaxing game that will have you making food and exploring the jungle for as long as you want to. There's no real pressure to play (it's not real-time like Animal Crossing or Nintendogs), and it's just simple fun. Happy surviving!

There are some really fun nuggets to be found in Secret Agent Clank, but for every one thing the game does right, it does two or three other things terribly wrong.

It's a very difficult game simply because the prospect of death is such an overpowering force in the game that it literally changes the way you play.

With the biggest new feature being Rookie Mode and the lack of new features that are available on current-gen versions of the game, those who own recent Madden title on the PSP won't find much new here.

Overall, I was pretty happy with all the improvements that Island of Happiness made to the traditional Harvest Moon formula. However, I had serious issues controlling the game, and it was always a battle to get my character to do what I wanted.

This is a card collecting game, and it appears that it will help keep the genre alive a little longer. It's more akin to a defibrillation than a Genesis.

Aside from the new tracks, SingStar: Pop Hits 2 is the same old song and dance.

Hockey is so much fun that it will win over even the most jaded skeptics. But dodgeball will get old very quickly, and volleyball is just plain awful. While multiplayer is where this game shines, the single-player tournaments are fairly dull until the second playthrough, when alternate paths and bonus challenges become available.

This game, by today’s standards, is incredibly boring, but there are many hours of play time here for those who get into it. Also, those who enjoyed the original PC game will get a kick out of the faithful reproduction.

While the battle system is addictive and a time attack mode can extend gameplay, many gamers will be frustrated by retro relics such as the lack of a map for the sprawling dungeons and frequent backtracking.

Definitely a must-have for any Fiddy fan but if you’re just concerned with the quality of the gameplay then I would recommend renting this one.

This is a card collecting game, and it appears that it will help keep the genre alive a little longer. It's more akin to a defibrillation than a Genesis.

The tactics are fairly simple (especially considering their source material) and the small scope of the game will turn off many who expect more depth from their tower defense titles. The game also looks too much like a mobile title for a console port, and it just doesn't really stand up as its own tactics title.

There is plenty of redundancy with similar looking environments, endless combat and the continual smashing of crates but the game has a comforting, mindlessness to it that makes time fly.

Left Brain, Right Brain is an interesting training game idea that unfortunately suffers from a lack of depth and an occasional feeling of pointlessness.

A tragic shame. The game offers up incredible potential, both for new creative possibilities in design and in unorthodox but engaging controls using the AR and camera feature of the 3DS.

The rather slim RPG elements coupled with deep, strategic, turn-based combat, and a lot of new and extra content makes Crossworlds a definite value.

If you enjoy platformers and want to go on the cheap, this is a game packed-full of original levels and fun gameplay. Plus, it offers co-op.

The best strategy titles cause players to become obsessed with their various systems, and to lose sleep playing late into the night. To the contrary, in King Arthur II, I found myself skipping battles whenever I could, and I stayed up late playing only because I had to write this review. That doesn't mean there's nothing to enjoy about this title, and, as they say, your mileage may vary. Only one thing is for certain: If you buy this game, you will spend a lot of time being read to.

This game has a serious lack of gameplay modes. However, the XP system is a lot of fun for anyone who likes to customize their racer down right down to the tiniest detail.

This game has a serious lack of gameplay modes. However, the XP system is a lot of fun for anyone who likes to customize their racer down right down to the tiniest detail.

It's not terribly long, and very linear. But the satisfying combat and extra content offer some redemption.

It's not terribly long, and very linear. But the satisfying combat and extra content offer some redemption.

The Legend of Heroes II will not disappoint fans of the original that are looking for more of the same. The rest of us can expect to be a little less than impressed.

Had WinBack 2 been released in 2002/2003, it would have been far better received but as a full-priced game released in 2006 it has to be held to the same standards as other top notch software and it falls short.

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.

The time manipulation gimmick makes TimeShift an enjoyable if forgettable experience.

It takes about 15 hours to get through the game, but it's too boring to be worthwhile.

The graphics are there, the story is there, and the mechanics are just a few tweaks shy of perfect. Yet when it comes to gameplay, that final and most important 10 percent, most folks will find themselves getting bored, lost, annoyed, or all three.

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 weakest episode yet, but worth it to see the ending.

Finally, the move to the consoles should make this game available to many more people, but it costs twice as much as it does for PC and isn't as good.

Project 8 is just another THPS, except without the "cool" factor.

Elite Forces: Unit 77 mainly suffers from its generic presentation and lack of innovation. There's very little about this game that makes it stands out from other more interesting handheld action games.

With tighter, less frustrating (and painful) motion controls Spotlight World Tour could have the potential to hold its own in the rhythm game genre. As it stands, the lack of polish in this area keeps the game from rising above a niche title destined for the hands pre-teen girls.

I just can't get behind it as it suffers from too high a frustration factor which could have been easily tweaked. There are simply too many gameplay elements going on at once which results in an uneven experience.

It works well enough, and even though it's far too easy and features ridiculously simplistic gameplay, it still gets the job done. Still, paying $40 for a game that just gets the job done feels a little wrong, and if you are a real LEGO Star Wars fan, you would be better served picking up the console version.

It takes about 15 hours to get through the game, but it's too boring to be worthwhile.

It comes across like fireworks, in that it's a lot of intense fun for a short period of time but when it's over, it's over. Don't expect much replay value unless you're one of those compulsive types that has to "collect-‘em-all.

Freestyle has a lot heart and, just like a real game of basketball, it takes heart to be any good. This, of course, does not say that it is not without faults, but for $20 how can you turn down a game that could shape the outcome of a new massive multiplayer online genre?

It is essential to try the game out before purchasing, because ultimately the deciding factor will always be the swing controls. If a player enjoys the controls, then they can not find a better suited golf game, especially with so much replay potential. However, if a player despises the swing method, all that is left of Super Swing Golf are awkward controls, mediocre graphics, and an unsatisfying golf game.

The game has a refreshingly organic feel to it that is bound to appeal to everyone.

The online trading will allow you access to Digimon in both the Dusk and Dawn version. If you're a fan, expect a lot of game.

More style than substance. This package is little more than a collection of his tunes, a reprisal of the movie and some generic gaming fodder that we've all seen and played in other games such as "Max Payne," "Dead To Rights," "True Crime" - that do it much better.

The online portion of 25 To Life isn't bad; it's not deep by any stretch nor does it look particularly wonderful, but you and your pals can run around the city and shoot each other online and I bet some of you will really like it.

The game is very short, but also very short on story. Still, if you like the idea of battling with the dragons from the movie, the game will be fun while it lasts.

The graphics miss a beat when it comes to the characters themselves. While Spider-man might look great, everyone from Peter down to J. Jonah Jameson looks painfully done.

The time manipulation gimmick makes TimeShift an enjoyable if forgettable experience.

While neither the mission mode nor story mode have any outstanding elements, the game works well enough, and if you have to get your Ninja on with the PSP, Akatsuki Rising is your best bet.

The online trading will allow you access to Digimon in both the Dusk and Dawn version. If you're a fan, expect a lot of game.

Adding a strategic element, a robust class system, and varied mission objectives were all great ideas for the franchise, but unfortunately they fall short due to poor implementation.

The graphics are there, the story is there, and the mechanics are just a few tweaks shy of perfect. Yet when it comes to gameplay, that final and most important 10 percent, most folks will find themselves getting bored, lost, annoyed, or all three.

It certainly rides on the coattails of 2033 Redux’s release, but it’s still incredibly fun. If anything, it’s a testament to how much fun Last Light was to begin with.

I had a lot of fun playing Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball, but I was extremely disappointed with the lack of content in this game. Playing the same four levels over and over is unacceptable in a modern game and is my chief complaint of this title.

A game of insane length. Soul breeding gives infinite room for replay value, but just getting through the first time can actually take up the entire life span of a normal human.