There's nothing new to be found in this button combo platformer, but solid controls, drop-in anytime co-op, plenty of unlockable characters and upgrades, and surprisingly entertaining dialogue save this game from being a forgettable addition to the Spider-Man franchise.

Its "average-ness" makes it accessible to newcomers, but hardcore RTS or RPG fans will find there's not enough depth of either genre to keep them interested for more than a few hours.

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.

Not a good game, but not a bad game by any means either. A surprisingly entertaining romp of repetitive mini-games that might surprise you by forcing a chuckle out once in awhile.

NBA Live 08 offers quick offensive gameplay, but the difficulty of implementing solid defensive maneuvers leads to high scoring games and frustrating moments.

It's still the same old Madden, emphasis on old. The mini-games are fun, but next time focus on fixing those bugs and giving us some more meat, OK guys?

Fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas (the movie) will adore this game, mostly due to it staying true to the milieu and characters from the movie. Non fans will still get a kick out of the game, as it’s an enjoyable mix of platforming and music.

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.

A decent port job that adds enough to keep first time players entertained, but seasoned Godfather vets will probably stay away.

A whole lot of new content, but the gameplay feels the same as we've seen before.

Frankly, the game components could’ve been stripped out and this would’ve scored better as an anime DVD, but as a game, it’s going to come off a very tiresome to the average gamer.

Overall, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is mildly fun.

The campaign grows tedious in spite of its mixed-up gameplay, and the remaining mini-game modes are enjoyable more for their novelty and humor than for their actual gameplay. I'd still recommend the game for serious Star Wars fans, but if you're more of a casual fan and/or just have a passing interest, it's better worth renting than a full-on purchase.

The game is solid, looks good and plays well, but it just has a "feel" that's not for everyone.

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.

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.

Definitely realistic, but sloppy AI sometimes feels cheap.

Kudos to the developer for squeezing this much game into a DS cart.

One of those games that's good, but it suffers from being too niche to ensure it broad acceptance from gamers. Couple that with the fact that the Taiko Drum is yet another specialized controller that'll probably never see use again.

Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars isn't a bad game, but it hardly feels like a full new game either. It's more like an enhanced expansion pack, with more units, better (but not amazing) graphics and a new storyline.

The game is solid, looks good and plays well, but it just has a "feel" that's not for everyone.

Great variety & depth but still ends up being a goal short of a hat trick.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is a breath of fresh air in many respects, but needs a good breeze in others.

Even with the seeming laundry list of complaints I have about this game, I still kind of enjoyed it. There's a certain sense of accomplishment that comes from solving the tougher puzzles.

Manages to make itself worth the $20 price tag by offering up an average level of everything -- from gameplay to graphics. It doesn't do anything exceptionally well, but it's a pleasant diversion for the price.

Entertainment is entertainment, but since this isn't really an RPG, it would've been nice to see a deeper dynasty mode.

An intriguing plot tries to turn an action-oriented (and bloody) game on its ear, but the gameplay is too repetitive at its core to make you feel like you've really experienced something unique in the ever-growing world of sandbox games.

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."

If you're a fan of the series, then you'll enjoy this, though possibly feel like you've paid full price for what is basically an expansion pack introducing some new mini-games, online support and extra characters (like Ratchet and Clank.)

If you can overlook the incredibly steep learning curve for the controls, Aerial Strike is a pretty enjoyable way to blow 20 bucks, especially if you don’t have an Xbox with "Crimson Skies."

Looks pretty good, but it tends to get tiresome after a few hours.

Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War isn't a bad game; rather, it is a noble effort that simply falls short of its goals.

With all that said, it's with heavy heart that we point anyone looking for a fun hockey game to NHL 09. We loathe to do this in light of NHL 2K9's impressive online features (tournaments and six-on-six with 11 other players), but the rest of the package just doesn't live up to expectations.

Unfortunately, the lack of any real depth to the gameplay, random game crashes and the poorly implemented Xbox Live features make it too hard to suggest as a purchase.

With all that said, it's with heavy heart that we point anyone looking for a fun hockey game to NHL 09. We loathe to do this in light of NHL 2K9's impressive online features (tournaments and six-on-six with 11 other players), but the rest of the package just doesn't live up to expectations.

With all that said, it's with heavy heart that we point anyone looking for a fun hockey game to NHL 09. We loathe to do this in light of NHL 2K9's impressive online features (tournaments and six-on-six with 11 other players), but the rest of the package just doesn't live up to expectations.

Still, Hollywood likes things that go boom and look good doing so, much like Michael Bay's Transformers movies. The game industry operates much the same way, but the best games within it also introduce a fresh experience, something Transformers: Fall of Cybertron fails to do. Yes, Grimlock and the Combaticons are new, but for all practical purposes they're just multimedia window dressing on an otherwise evolutionary, not revolutionary, title.

Not enough features or updates stand out to warrant this quickly released update to Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07. Outdated graphics, spotty controls, and lack of online support hinder an otherwise solid golf sim.

I'm surprised and saddened that this was outdone by a two-year-old game. EA's trying some new things here, but they don't quite work yet.

I'm surprised and saddened that this was outdone by a two-year-old game. EA's trying some new things here, but they don't quite work yet.

I'm surprised and saddened that this was outdone by a two-year-old game. EA's trying some new things here, but they don't quite work yet.

A lackluster port with average graphics, a poor camera system and stupid AI.

I'm surprised and saddened that this was outdone by a two-year-old game. EA's trying some new things here, but they don't quite work yet.

Ubisoft upped the ante with Sixaxis support, new planes and new missions, but dropped the ball with inconsistent framerates and an online network desperately seeking gamers.

If you're looking for a racing or action game, you're better off buying a title more focused on those genres.

If you’re looking for a racing or action game, you’re better off buying a title more focused on those genres.

Although flawed and derivative, Genji: Days of the Blade still manages to offer a bit of enjoyment for those willing to seek it out.

New York looks great, but the camera inconsistencies and helter-skelter gameplay flow takes away all the good will that Spider-Man 2: The Game had built.

GeoDeformed ruts are cool, but when each like-classed car handles the same and there's no threat of driving off the road, the only "rut" that matters is the one you feel you're in when going from one race to the next.

If going through the motions is your thing, F.E.A.R. Files is for you. But gamers looking for a more robust, rewarding and sexy experience can definitely do better than this game.

Last year's strong foundation has apparently crumbled, as the gameplay and audio just have too many miscues to make this year's outing all that enjoyable.

Even faulted, the gameplay grows on you, but you probably won’t have the patience or desire to let it get to that point.

Sniping can be cool, but this game finds a way to make it much more boring than it should be.

The back-and-forth structure is tedious, and the narrative needed to be much more fleshed-out. Too bad great loading-screen treatments can't make up for overall shortcomings.

Repetitive button-mashing gameplay and recycled graphics and music keep Arc the Lad: End of Darkness from being on the A-list, but the online multiplayer modes are enough fun to give this game a try.

Spotty AI results in way too much micromanagement, which is a true shame for any game, but especially for a strategic one bearing the Star Trek license.

There's nothing we having seen here that wasn't done better almost eight years ago.

Unless you are a die-hard fan of the series, there isn't enough game here to justify a purchase.

For me, it was easiest to trade-off turns: when the game was easy, I let the kids play, when it was too tough for them, I took over. But I can’t see either side enjoying the game on their own, it’s truly a family game to say the least, because without both kids and adults playing, it’s not going to hold your interest.

The back-and-forth structure is tedious, and the narrative needed to be much more fleshed-out. Too bad great loading-screen treatments can't make up for overall shortcomings.

This should've been more than just slightly better than the original. Rent it before buying at full price.

It's tough to recommend this game to newcomers to the Monkey Ball world based on the two rough game modes, and the otherwise decent Challenge mode likely isn't long enough to justify the high price tag of 3DS titles. The use of 3D is novel, but completely unnecessary – as we've all played these games at home since the Gamecube launch.

Some dumb moves by the AI and bad voice acting drag the game down a bit, but if you don't take it too seriously, you will enjoy it a lot more.

When it comes right down to it, Robotech: Invasion isn't a bad game, it's just not an original game.

Barely a sequel, it's more like a Death Jr. add-on pack, but still enjoyable for a short amount of time.

But pretty pictures and good audio don’t always make for a pretty good game, as gamers both old and young can tell you from personal experiences. The gameplay is what counts, and in that sense, Shark Tale doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Slippery controls, lackluster multiplayer and just "ok" content make this a game that only the most dedicated will be interested in.

The episodes and scenes are entertaining, but there simply aren't enough of them to justify a full purchase. Pound for pound, unless you're hell-bent to perform MTV programming, Yoostar 2 is definitely a better deal.

Thanks to the weak combo system, and the sometimes confusing action onscreen, most adult gamers will simply be frustrated in playing this, unless it's used as a form of parent-child bonding, where it would work wonders.

For fans of the genre (or the arcade game) only.

Billed as a sequel, it's more of a expansion than anything. And not much of an expansion at that.

For me, it was easiest to trade-off turns: when the game was easy, I let the kids play, when it was too tough for them, I took over. But I can't see either side enjoying the game on their own, it's truly a family game to say the least, because without both kids and adults playing, it's not going to hold your interest.

If you do buy or rent the collection, don't bother with the light gun since it's too much work to get working properly and there aren't enough compatible games on the Xbox to support the purchase.

Maximum Impact isn’t a game I would recommend to anyone other than you hardcore KOF fans. There are much better fighting games out there with a lot more to offer for you others.

It's hard to recommend this game to anyone other than the most diehard DBZ fans due to the bad camera angles, repetitive button mashing gameplay and the lack of online multiplayer. I suggest the developers start concentrating on quality over quantity.

Full Auto 2: Battlelines might be battling for your gaming dollars, but it's in your best interest to draw a line in the sand. Say no to a wealth of issues with the presentation and controls, as well as a distinct lack of basic multiplayer features.

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.

Serviceable but stale, the King of Fighters is quickly losing his reign.

For me, it was easiest to trade-off turns: when the game was easy, I let the kids play, when it was too tough for them, I took over. But I can't see either side enjoying the game on their own, it's truly a family game to say the least, because without both kids and adults playing, it's not going to hold your interest.

But pretty pictures and good audio don’t always make for a pretty good game, as gamers both old and young can tell you from personal experiences. The gameplay is what counts, and in that sense, Shark Tale doesn’t quite hit the mark.

While the $20 price tag might seem like a great reason to pick up Sega GT Online, it’s not.

But pretty pictures and good audio don’t always make for a pretty good game, as gamers both old and young can tell you from personal experiences. The gameplay is what counts, and in that sense, Shark Tale doesn’t quite hit the mark.

The game is chess, and at chess Fritz is good. It’s most everything else that I wasn’t happy about.

A mildly fun title that mixes gameplay from several Namco titles along with a cute crossover storyline with another Namco classic character, "Mr. Driller."

Great multiplayer, boring single player. Needs wi-fi support to really fulfill its potential.

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.

It avoids completely trashing the action-platformer genre, so if you have a touch of Pac-Man fever and can't find an arcade with the coin-op machine, you might just want to check this one out.

When it comes right down to it, Robotech: Invasion isn't a bad game, it's just not an original game.

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

If you really need a DS RPG, you could check this out. Just be warned that the combat system is very frustrating.

Considerably less enjoyable than the now two-year-old (and eminently enjoyable) "Massive Assault," which had better AI, a stronger political system and even better production values. Save yourself some money and pick up a copy of "Massive Assault."

Spotty AI results in way too much micromanagement, which is a true shame for any game, but especially for a strategic one bearing the Star Trek license.

Sure to disappoint fans of the franchise, but may be a nice "lite" introduction to newcomers.

Entertaining and charming, but a little on the "incredibly short" side.

The controls are sketchy and I can't understand why humming with lips press against the microphone earns a better score than actually trying to sing.

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.

Lair looks phenomenal and is an ambitious and novel concept, but its horrible controls and linear environments kill the fun faster than a dragon can cook up a burger.

If you like a beat ‘em up style title, Seven Samurai 20xx is a good rental. I wouldn’t recommend buying it because it’s just too darned easy.