With almost no new features to speak of, there is little reason to do away with 2K8 and replace it with 2K9, other than the fact that it is, on its own, an enjoyable baseball game with new rosters.

Linear, simplistic gameplay with no multiplayer component limits replay value.

Overall, Brain Assist is a pretty novel game idea, but 10 mini-games are just not enough to make a game experience feel complete.

Linear, simplistic gameplay with no multiplayer component limits replay value.

Unfortunately, even though this game sounds great, the controls reduce it to a mediocre status.

There are lots of missions and difficulty options, but they're all unlocked right away, so there's no sense of progress.

Koa falls under the "better-than-nothing" category if you're a real platform addict. Overall it's not a bad game but it has the potential to be so much better.

Rent this game, just as you would the movie. If you purchase it, it will leave you shaken, not stirred.

Even though nothing here is truly groundbreaking, if you just want another shooter you can do a lot worse than Haze. But, if you're looking for a title that gives you a long-lasting experience, then you may need to look elsewhere.

Aside from the lengthy dialogue and simplistic gameplay, you should play this title for the story.

A continuation of a series that is past its prime. With the ability to import people, places, and things from the original game, it literally steals from its past. This series will not move forward until it stops looking back.

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

How much you play really depends on how much you like grinding and Rogue-like dungeon-crawling and if you mind the first-person visuals. If you really like that sort of thing, expect 50+ hours of fun. If not, just skip this class.

The only way to experience the full impact of this title is to play it on the PSP. It's too bad that this version makes PS2 owners feel like third-world gamers.

In the end, Force Unleashed on PS2 feels like a tech demo. Though there are a ton of really cool gameplay elements to experience, not enough of them come together to make for a truly fun adventure.

If you are a Spyro enthusiast, then Dawn of the Dragon definitely delivers all the platforming action you are used to, and you probably won't be disappointed. But if you are looking for something more than just the usual grind, you may want to leave this Dragon on the shelf.

If you can get past the fairly boxy-looking and unlikeable characters, there is some fun to be had creating objects, playing mini-games, completing the game's story, and customizing the kingdom's appearance. Just don't expect to be wowed by the storyline or to enjoy all of the included mini-games.

A painfully bland game with little inspiration and even less going for it. You can do better than spend your money on MIB: Alien Crisis.

Juiced 2 seems more like an expansion pack to the original than a true sequel. However, it's by far the best of the two.

Juiced 2 seems more like an expansion pack to the original than a true sequel. However, it's by far the best of the two.

There's a lot of fun to be had here, and younger players should get plenty of fun out of this product. For discerning adults, the allure may wear off pretty quickly, but not before a few hearty laughs.

Lost in Blue 3 is a fun game, especially if you fall into one of two categories: if you've never played a Lost in Blue game, or if you have played a Lost in Blue game and can't get enough of the same gameplay.

It's depressing to think that Techland took a popular franchise, came up with some brilliant ideas for a new entry, and then botched the execution-but that's exactly what happened.

It's depressing to think that Techland took a popular franchise, came up with some brilliant ideas for a new entry, and then botched the execution-but that's exactly what happened.

The gameplay that was established in 1982 is archaic, but it’s as addictive as it ever was and will keep many players busy trying to top their friends on the Leaderboards. That’s the only place they can compete with one another unfortunately since there is absolutely no multiplayer to go along with a disappointing lack of additional content.

What was once regarded as a fun-but-shallow game series has transformed into a shallow-and-pointless one. Dynasty Warriors 6 does not totally fail as a game, but it has begun my own personal disenchantment with the series.

The limited gameplay itself is solid enough to warrant a few hours of space combat, but as a Star Trek title, Conquest simply doesn't live up to expectation.

Yoshi has had some grand adventures of his own, but sadly this is not one of them.

The Vita copy of Dungeon Hunter: Alliance is in a rather unique and unsavory position. You see, the exact same game can be purchased on the PlayStation Network for less than a third of the $39.99 Vita cartridge cost, and cheaper still on the iOS app store.

On a platform that's actually been criticized for having too many shooters, it's tough to recommend a shooter so mediocre as Infernal: Hell's Vengeance.

Full Burst may not be as cinematic as games like Heavy Rain and Beyond Two Souls, but make no mistake, the whole purpose of this game is to watch the Naruto plotline unfold again… this time with funny costumes!

The limited gameplay itself is solid enough to warrant a few hours of space combat, but as a Star Trek title, Conquest simply doesn't live up to expectation.

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

It’s fun, but it’s not nearly as fun as other Trials games.

The everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach attempts to overshadow the lack of depth in Deep Labyrinth, but it can’t escape from its own repetitiveness. While we may be misdirected temporarily, we soon find ourselves back on the well-beaten path.

If you're a fan of Godzilla, you'll find a lot to enjoy with this game once you get beyond the flawed and unresponsive controls.

If you are looking to play a game to get the experience of multiplayer while not actually being online, this may be the game you’ve been looking for.

Hot Brain will not give you endless hours of entertainment. It's meant to be savored a little bit at a time. The lack of any extra puzzles or mini-game severely reduces the replay value. Best to rent this game if you've already played any of the other Brain-related games.

There are only 35 puzzles, many of them are poorly designed, and the story isn't too impressive.

The game will be delightfully nostalgic to gamers of old, and should be tried by anyone who is too young to remember it. It's an important part of gaming history, one that will make a fine addition to your Xbox LIVE Arcade game collection.

It's fun in spots, but the gameplay is extremely repetitive, and there's no incentive for you to get better. Feels like a tech demo haphazardly turned into a full game.

Although there is a decent amount of story material to cover as well as some potential for grinding/leveling up, nothing here warrants a second play through.

Hammerin Hero is almost guaranteed to disappoint any gamer that purchases it due to the short length, repetitive gameplay, and lack of replay value. But, it does make the perfect rental, and is highly recommended for a brief rendezvous.

While the game is fun, especially with a partner on the couch, the lack of boss battles, no online multiplayer matching, and only a handful of hours of content make this game little more than a solid rental.

What was once regarded as a fun-but-shallow game series has transformed into a shallow-and-pointless one. Dynasty Warriors 6 does not totally fail as a game, but it has begun my own personal disenchantment with the series.

If you are a fan of past Gust RPGs like Atelier Iris and Ar tonelico, Mana Khemia may be something worth looking into. However, be forewarned that this game in no way features the same amount of freedom to roam and spend as much time as you please.

Sing It! is a title that can easily be enjoyed by a wide audience, however, playing the same short game over and over again for a high score to get at the bonus features gets old fast. Ultimately, the missing depth and short length make it a hard sell for the price of the package. Still, the gameplay is solid and it is an entertaining experience while it lasts.

While Explorers of Sky would be a decent game if it were judged in a vacuum, when viewed alongside Explorers of Time / Darkness, there simply isn't enough unique, quality content to make it relevant. This is perhaps one of the worst values in gaming I've ever seen.

It's doubtful that it will spawn any new recruits.

Heritage of War can easily last you a 100 hours if you want to explore all aspects of it. There's a lot less filler than with your average RPG, but if you're the impatient type, you're still going to experience a lot of frustration. Especially when you have to level-up new playable characters.

Though functionality isn’t one of its strong points, the game’s major saving graces are its humorous cutscenes and voiceover work, namely that of Julien.

What the game suffers from is an overwhelming lack of personality. The vehicles are generic looking, even for the future, and the rest of the game feels as empty as the abandoned cities the tracks encircle.

Orcs & Elves is a simple dungeon crawler that harkens back to the FPS PC games of old. The graphics, combat, and puzzle elements are crude and uninventive. The game isn't awful, but it isn't very fun either.

The move list for each monsters is VERY basic, a button and a direction, and some button mashing in the hopes of making a viable string combo.

Playing DKC 2 is the equivalent of going to a restaurant and only ordering the appetizer. Sure, it's something to eat but you're missing out on the filet Minot by chewing on cheese-covered tacos.

It seems as though the game tries too hard to grab your attention. Like an annoying child, Delta Force: Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre forces you to comply by sheer redundancy.

Much like a Weird Al song, UTS is a novelty from beginning to end and you might find that the novelty wears extremely thin after a couple of hours (in my case, much less time was needed).

You aren't going to get a lot of replay value out of it, but if you like things a little on the "quirky" side of gaming, at least give it a test drive.

Ultimately, I doubt I’ll remember Prey much after I stop playing it. There’s too much else going on in games in 2017, and Prey does not stand out amongst its peers. Its fiction is self-serious, despite being so derivative, and its systems are frustrating and constantly in conflict with each other. It feels like dozens of other games I’ve played already, but enjoyed more. Even when something interesting does happen, I still feel like my time hasn’t been respected and my brain hasn’t been stimulated as promised.

A fun game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Therefore, players shouldn’t take in-game action too seriously either, and if true-to-life football, play-calling, and tactics is your thing, Blitz is definitely not for you. At the most, this is an arcade intended for a good time, though the fun can tend to be short-lived.

There's a lot of replay value, but it's ridiculously frustrating to get through this game the first time.

Lost Planet 2 simply doesn't live up to the developer's grandiose plans. Other than the game's beauty, the big, challenging bosses, and the infrequent fun that can be derived from four-player co-op, this is a gaming experience that can easily be passed up.

Despite the seemingly lewd nature of the premise, this game approaches relationships in an almost clinical fashion. Yes, there is nudity but unless you get hot looking at a mannequin without a shirt, you're not likely to become too aroused when playing this game.

Parents with children that watch the show faithfully will please their progeny by purchasing this title, but others may find themselves unimpressed by the uninspired platforming and confusing characters.

Nowhere near as engaging as "GTA 3," "Vice City" or even "Max Payne."

If you're looking for some radical improvements, then I suggest you look elsewhere.

For a game that was inspired by a movie that was inspired by a theme park ride that was originally inspired by a book, The Legend of Jack Sparrow is less than inspired.

If you're looking for a game that won't overtax your brain then OT is the way to go.

While the visuals are amazing, the game just doesn't deliver as well in the fighting as it should.

While it's not short on game, it does come up short on gameplay, and that's the important thing. It's fun to swing around the pseudo 3D cities, but the level of difficulty unhinges things later on.

Even though series fans may be pleased with the inclusion of missing scenes from the movie and faithfulness to the overall plot, I smell a rush job to the market here.

How many GBA to console ports can you name? Me neither. This is definitely one and it shows. But despite the somewhat rushed presentation which tries unsuccessfully to combine new graphics and menus with those of 32-bit system, this is still one heck of a fun game - with a four-player mode to boot.

Die hard fans of Iron Man will really appreciate the smooth controls and frantic gameplay. After all, the game feels like you've stepped into the toughest part of a comic. However, if you're just a regular gamer, you're going to want to pass on this title. The repetitive missions, terrible story, and ugly cutscenes are not worth your hard earned cash.

With only 200 new cards out of 1000 that means that only 20-per-cent of the content can be considered new and if you take into account the structure of the gameplay, which is unchanged, that percentage will actually be quite lower than my generous 20.

I'd recommend "Gundam" or "Armored Core" for better anime robot-fighting value.

The game's lack of depth however is its downfall. The dumber you are, the longer you will be able to play this game. I don't say that to belittle intellectually-challenged gamers…..yes I do.

Age of Pirates 2 is relatively easy to learn, as long as you can read the text. The interface is straightforward and there's nothing too complex in terms of rules or moves.

My biggest problem with the game was adjusting to the controls of this version... The controls are set-up remarkably well for the few buttons on the system. The problem is they did not include a sensitivity adjustment option.

These are mini-games and as such they have a short shelf life. I don't want to use the word "novelty" but you won't get tons of replay value out of these games.

You have this great game, which is so fun to play at home and online (especially over Xbox Live), and when you’re prepped to take it on the road with you all you are left with are white knuckles of frustration.

This one is worth your time if you’re simply looking for a unique take on the classic sandbox genre. Otherwise, it might not be a bad idea to lay low and wait for a price drop in the future.

The truly unfortunate thing about FIFA Street 3 is the shallow Street Challenge because the play mechanics work fairly well and the game can be fun. It is just aggravating to do pointless challenge after challenge after challenge.

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

There's not much to this game, but what is there is done well enough. The younger audiences will have hours of fun with the pint-sized heroes.

Good FPS but not worth full price. Limited replay value.

Loading the game into your machine is like unleashing Pandora's box. You'll either love it or loath it. Keep the aspirins handy in case of headaches.

One of this season's best rentals. It's a short, but fun, little game that captures the spirit of the anime series that it's based on.

A perplexing amalgam of moves, gadgets, puzzles, characters and situations that don't blend. Imagine if you could hear every individual voice in a choir instead of one, massive, aural wave.

Good FPS but not worth full price. Limited replay value.

It's all rather generic which means that you could have put the crew of the Love Boat in this game and nothing would change, except that it might actually be more fun.

Thankfully this game includes a pitch meter which measures the input pitch against the actual pitch and shows the singer the difference (i.e. if he or she is flat or sharp).

This game is very frustrating and relies on a blend of skill and luck which means even if you're a skilled player you will never have total control of the randomized events... Still, for the right person this can be a very fun game.

Younger players who aren't up to snuff on the somewhat difficult controls of the console version will get more out of this than the average console player.

There's not much to this game, but what is there is done well enough. The younger audiences will have hours of fun with the pint-sized heroes.

Better than last year's game with new modes and some new controls but it's a long way from being the definitive version of the sport.

The adventure is over in a flash, and though DGamer is still one of the strongest social networks on DS, it hardly makes the ends meet.

Addicting. It operates on many levels. Not only to you have to think fast but you have to plan in advance. I think that most gamers will be amazed at just how many words they can think of when pushed to the limit.

I’m all for remasters of old games and keeping those same clunky mechanics with those old games, including the punishing difficulty. However, I want my sequels to old games to adapt and grow with the times. If Shenmue III had done that, it not only would have been a better game overall, it would have appealed to a bigger audience outside its cult following.