Often the cut-scenes are more compelling than the gameplay, but the game does ultimately salvage itself from being the eternal butt of Xbox 360 jokes from this point forward.

Soul Calibur IV is a fighter with as much a depth as players are willing to invest. We were hoping for a bit more innovation in this go-round, but at the end of the day, we can settle for more of the same good Soul Calibur gameplay.

The baseball portions are fun, but the game ironically doesn't focus much on hardball at all, and the other modes are tedious and confounding.

Cooking Mama seemed like an insurmountable franchise at one time, but Order Up! has -- at least to this editor -- added just the right amount of gameplay spice to surpass the competition.

It doesn't offer anything new, and in fact offers most everything old. That's nice in some respects, but between that and the short length, the gameplay just doesn't justify the price.

If you enjoy games like Catan, this game goes a little deeper and offers a lot more, but with exceptional controls that give you a fun, action-based experience without all the memorization of various control schemes.

If you enjoy games like Catan, this game goes a little deeper and offers a lot more, but with exceptional controls that give you a fun, action-based experience without all the memorization of various control schemes.

If you really like guns and explosions, this game is for you. Otherwise, pocket your points and save your ammo.

WALL-E is a fun character and film, but while the game explores more of the movie's universe, the gameplay doesn't explore anything by familiar ground.

WALL-E is a fun character and film, but while the game explores more of the movie's universe, the gameplay doesn't explore anything by familiar ground.

WALL-E is a fun character and film, but while the game explores more of the movie's universe, the gameplay doesn't explore anything by familiar ground.

There's a nice amount of content, but the updates do little more than gloss over lingering issues, and choosing to upgrade the audio over the graphics is just plain puzzling.

The BF series finally gets some decent single-player attention, and the fantastic results make us wonder why DICE didn't try it out before.

The BF series finally gets some decent single-player attention, and the fantastic results make us wonder why DICE didn't try it out before.

The changes to Top Spin 3 are only good for hardcore tennis fans. For most gamers, the new animation-dependent learning curve will replace the fun gameplay elements with literal gameplay mechanics.

The changes to Top Spin 3 are only good for hardcore tennis fans. For most gamers, the new animation-dependent learning curve will replace the fun gameplay elements with literal gameplay mechanics.

The need to calibrate is annoying, but the scaled-down aspects are moot with Wii owners, and the multiplayer aspects are perfectly suited for the Wii in general.

It may sound simple -- and really, it is -- but Space Invaders Extreme loses nothing in playability.

The game mechanics are sound, but the subject matter doesn't make for a compelling game.

We were skeptical that a Metal Gear title would be a killer app, but we were happily proven wrong.

The DBZ series' next-gen debut looks and sounds good, but its gameplay has some minor annoyances that are poorly timed, considering Soulcaliber IV isn't all that far off. You're better off waiting for that one instead.

The DBZ series' next-gen debut looks and sounds good, but its gameplay has some minor annoyances that are poorly timed, considering Soulcaliber IV isn't all that far off. You're better off waiting for that one instead.

The game is fun and being the Hulk as never been such a chaotic thrill. However, the horrible voice acting and corporate Achievement schemes will bring even the Hulk to his knees.

The game is fun and being the Hulk as never been such a chaotic thrill. However, the horrible voice acting and corporate Achievement schemes will bring even the Hulk to his knees.

It's not that often you encounter a game that mixes genres and still manages to be above-average in quality.

It's not that often you encounter a game that mixes genres and still manages to be above-average in quality.

Kung Fu Panda the game will entertain you or your kids, which is more than you can say for most games in general, let alone ones based on a summer film.

Kung Fu Panda the game will entertain you or your kids, which is more than you can say for most games in general, let alone ones based on a summer film.

Not a bad game in and of itself, but there's just not enough content here to make it seem worth the money you paid for it.

SingStar has good karaoke and non-multiplayer online functionality, but it enters a crowded field and is really just "more of the same." Sure, it's a good same, but karaoke is karaoke.

If sales are the determining factor to a game's success, then Wii Fit and the Balance Board will be one of the most successful "videogames" released this year -- much to the chagrin of true "gamers."

Boom Blox is the type of game Wii was designed for.

Rockstar has outdone itself yet again, with the multiplayer portions lifting the overall game, but there's still room to improve the single-player elements, which feel recycled and drag on at times.

Rockstar has outdone itself yet again, with the multiplayer portions lifting the overall game, but there's still room to improve the single-player elements, which feel recycled and drag on at times.

The Wii's enormous "casual" gamer base will eat Mario Kart Wii up with its accessible pick-up-and-play controls. Veterans aren't left out either with online play they've been clamoring for well over a decade.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3: FES is a hardcore title with hardcore appeal, and it's not intended to a blockbuster.

NBA Ballers: Chosen One tries to do too many things at once, never really succeeded at any of them.

NBA Ballers: Chosen One tries to do too many things at once, never really succeeded at any of them.

Battle of the Bands may have some technical issues, but they seldom get in the way of having fun or interfere with the creativity of the musical premise itself.

Gran Turismo 5: Prologue is off to a good start, but it's unfinished. Also, there's no way we can recommend spending $40 for a demo. This score reflects the game content itself, not the overall value.

So much effort went into replicating the glaive's flight and awe-inspiring kills that every other aspect of Dark Sector took a noticeable hit in quality and polish, save for the visuals. Remove the glaive, and this game's appeal drops below mediocrity into a rinse-and-repeat nightmare.

So much effort went into replicating the glaive's flight and awe-inspiring kills that every other aspect of Dark Sector took a noticeable hit in quality and polish, save for the visuals. Remove the glaive, and this game's appeal drops below mediocrity into a rinse-and-repeat nightmare.

When it's all said and done, this game is fun. This is truly a worthy addition to the Ninja Gaiden franchise.

SingStar 90s isn't as flashy as Guitar Hero, nor does it have all the instruments of Rock Band, but it plays well, takes up considerably less space and is a bargain price-wise.

Simple fun doesn't mean simplistic play. Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds stays within the bounds of pick-up-and-play fun without alienating more "refined" golf-game fans.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is a solid game that should prove enjoyable to fans of single-player and online shooting fun. We highly recommend Ubisoft's latest outing in 2008.

Condemned 2 is a decent game that suffers from a gameplay identity crisis and strays too far from the original's successful but under-rated formula.

Buzz: Hollywood Quiz deftly straddles the line between budget and quality, and if you're hurting for a movie-based trivia game, you can hardly go wrong here.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is one of the most fun multiplayer experiences you will have on any console. Period.

The co-op gameplay is both Army of Two's savior and burden, but the end result is still an enjoyable experience that fills a void not just in the Q1 doldrums, but in the shooter scene as a whole.

The co-op gameplay is both Army of Two's savior and burden, but the end result is still an enjoyable experience that fills a void not just in the Q1 doldrums, but in the shooter scene as a whole.

Not a bad game, but not enough to keep your attention. The long levels of wash-rinse-and-repeat action will please only the Achievement-loving space cadets.

Chains of Olympus is both a worthy entry in the God of War series and a hands-down favorite for "best PSP game released yet."

Put all this together, and Bully: Scholarship Edition is a great game.

The game is easy, shallow and repetitive. Stop reading this and buy Brain Age. Your brain will thank you.

Ubisoft captured the visual spirit of the show, but the actual gameplay in the first LOST game is not worth the three-season wait.

Ubisoft captured the visual spirit of the show, but the actual gameplay in the first LOST game is not worth the three-season wait.

With an extra year to refine Lost Planet from top to bottom, Capcom should have delivered a PS3 masterpiece. Instead, the game's taken some painful steps backwards, which is probably the same thing PS3 owners should do when they see this game in stores.

Aside from the more natural controls afforded by the Wii Remote, Nunchuk and one new gameplay mode, SEGA Bass Fishing's Wii debut doesn't tread any new water.

You're far better off reading the book. It's cheaper, too.

Destroy All Humans! was a good game, as was the sequel, but this third one completely misses the panache, personality and polish that made the previous outings so fun.

A poorly executed game that suffers from just about every malady known to gaming, from bad plot to sketchy gameplay. Best to avoid this one entirely.

A must-have RPG for all those who complain that the Xbox 360 doesn't have any, and proof that Mistwalker can deliver great games.

A new character brings new and compelling gameplay elements, but the repetition gets a bit tired, even if it is a Capcom calling card.

A new character brings new and compelling gameplay elements, but the repetition gets a bit tired, even if it is a Capcom calling card.

An entertaining movie tie-in that should keep kids and fans of the film engrossed throughout the duration of your game-rental period.

You won't find a better deal than this overflowing bag of content. However, if you're not a diehard Twisted Metal fan, there probably isn't enough motivation or variation for you to really get immersed in the game.

Ah, kids...Let me tell you a story. It'll honestly be more enjoyable for you than this game.

A high degree of patience is required to battle the PixelJunk Monsters, a bit more so than the developers should have allowed. Otherwise, PixelJunk Monsters is a solid, albeit safe entry in the timeless "tower defense" genre.

Other than the lack of waypoints and some AI-balancing complaints, there's not much to find fault with when it comes to Burnout Paradise.

Other than the lack of waypoints and some AI-balancing complaints, there's not much to find fault with when it comes to Burnout Paradise.

More a learning tool than a game, Endless Ocean will appeal best to anyone interested in marine wildlife or gamers who cannot resist "collecting them all."

As a budget title, it might be easier to overlook the flaws, but there's not nearly enough polish to justify the full price.

Omega Five is a rose: great to look at but painful to handle.

There's bad, and there's really bad. Somehow, someway, EA has managed to eclipse both with NFL Tour. Please bring back NFL Street.

Fun multiplayer options salvage an otherwise troubled game, but that alone can't make the rest of the game any more fun.

Custom Events can be fun, and a few of the game's minor features are nice, but in the off-road racing landscape, MX vs. ATV Untamed just doesn't rev our engines.

Custom Events can be fun, and a few of the game's minor features are nice, but in the off-road racing landscape, MX vs. ATV Untamed just doesn't rev our engines.

Innovative, addicting gameplay launches Gripshift out of mediocrity, but the lack of motivation to play everything, a ghost of a multiplayer mode, the 600-Microsoft-Point price tag and eventual frustration makes the game plummet back to Earth.

After about three levels I couldn't take it anymore and put the controller down.

While the gameplay is easy, we found the level of difficulty to be perfectly balanced and the vehicle upgrades to be a welcome addition to the standard shooter.

Had it finished cooking for another few months and released next summer, Mass Effect probably would have been one of the best games ever created. What we have now is very good, but it leaves us looking forward to their next offering rather than our next play-through with this chapter.

Rock Band not only sidles right up to Guitar Hero on the excellence scale, but in some social respects rocks right past it. A few minor issues exist, but for a first outing, Rock Band deserves a serious encore

Wii owners may want to play the once only-on-Xbox-360 franchise, but a combination of horrible controls and hard-to-follow multiplayer options manages to kill any fun that might otherwise be had.

If the design errors can be overlooked, Time Crisis 4 is what you expect: a fast, intense light gun shooter with decent graphics and the ability to make one's arm sore for days after.

2K Sports has introduced a lot of concepts and perfectly captured the college arena atmosphere, but the game itself needs a bit more work on all of its moving parts.

2K Sports has introduced a lot of concepts and perfectly captured the college arena atmosphere, but the game itself needs a bit more work on all of its moving parts.

Uncharted flirts with greatness, but some gameplay, AI and plot issues keep it from achieving its full potential. It's still an incredible game, though, with the best production values we've seen in 2007.

Cars and physics shine in this game, but the gameplay gets repetitive in an overlong career mode.

The open-world genre has never looked so good, but it could've played a bit more realistically given the subject matter. A few fewer Biblical references would've been nice, too.

Vince McMahaon may not be dead, but the Smackdown vs. Raw series is just barely avoiding life support.

If there's one word to describe this game it's frenzy. You'll find plenty of fast action and the gameplay never really takes a break.

Contra 4 is made for the fan in mind. It is obvious that the developers have a lot of love for the Contra series so if you're a fan then there's nothing to pick at.

The age-appropriate trivia is good, but the game itself gets old fast, and the motion-sensitive functions get in the way of the core gameplay: answering questions.

Beowulf lives up to its "M" rating, and there's plenty of hacking and slashing to be done here. But if you're looking for more than just bloody waterfalls and severed arms, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Super Mario Galaxy is a Wii masterpiece and the gameplay is out of this world. Don't be a Koopa; try out what may be the best Wii game yet.

About as much effort was put into making this game fun as was put into coming up with a creative title. Why anyone would pay for this is the real puzzle....

The PlayStation 3 finally gets its LEGO Star Wars fix, and in spite of its Sixaxis control snafus and camera issues, it still turns out to be the best such outing yet.