Ninja Gaiden, despite one of the year's worst camera systems, still manages to be one of the year's best action games.

The Judge System and a few other gripes do keep this game from being truly excellent. But hey! At least there's no slow text like in the original.

While there's plenty of new features to separate this game from the other trick games on the market, they're implemented poorly. In the end, it's different, but not much better than any of the other "Pro X" games out there.

Where the game begins to lose some of its luster is in the areas of sound and story, and a camera that suffers from a lack of intuition. The music is not so much repetitive as it is boring.

If you like deliberately subjecting yourself to frustration for little or no reward, surrounded by a group of idiots mocking you, super glue a coin to the ground and attempt to pry it away while screaming obscenities at the top of your voice. It'll be cheaper than wasting your money on this.

The single player campaign, while enjoyable for what it is, pales substantially to its online multiplayer counterpart.

The sequel just seems to abandon all of what I thought made the original unique and special, and has in effect become just another pretty face in a crowded genre.

Delivers breathtaking visuals, set against a fairly average game.

This time around there is more character interaction, more action, more techniques, and THANKFULLY the game is much longer.

There are a variety of attacks and moves that can be mastered for the Diskarmor, but sadly you will often find yourself simply using the most straightforward attacks as they are not only the easiest to execute, but also are less likely to leave Rygar open for attack by any one for the handful of different enemies in the game.

The ability to communicate vocally is hand over fist an improvement over the keyboard and icon based communication in the other versions of the game.

At the very core of the game is something that could have worked, but it is so deeply entrenched within mediocrity and poorly executed ideas that it hurts.

The control aspect is passable at times, and downright painful at others. Whoever wrote the code for this "nodes" system needs to be taken out in the road and ran over.

While the game's extra content and sense of freedom are is exceptional, its bugs and glitches are so severe that they will tax the patience of all but the most devoted player.

If you like deliberately subjecting yourself to frustration for little or no reward, surrounded by a group of idiots mocking you, super glue a coin to the ground and attempt to pry it away while screaming obscenities at the top of your voice. It'll be cheaper than wasting your money on this.

Its song selection is immediately accessible to anyone who listens to pop radio, but for those looking for a bit more variety in their musical games are bound to be disappointed, at least until a suitable expansion disc arrives.

The crux of the gameplay lies in combat that is extremely tedious. There are other features within which to loose yourself, from item customization, to even a Pokemon style creature rearing and combat mini-game that is deep enough to almost be a game on its own. But these facets are made to accentuate the core game, not make up for its shortcomings, which as it turns out are considerable.

Ultimately, a sizeable portion of the game feels more like a 3D "Double Dragon" or "Final Fight" than it does "Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins." It’s solid gameplay in that vein, but it’s a misstep for this particular franchise.

While visually that game is unmatched, there just isn't enough game here to warrant anything other than a rental.

But strip away the culture it’s trying so very hard to win over and there’s a game that’s been hastily, and sparsely, updated, and was beaten to death in the womb by "Burnout 3" months ago. Just like 20” rims and a spoiler on a 1984 Volvo, this game may turn heads, but where it counts most it’s a phoney.

But strip away the culture it’s trying so very hard to win over and there’s a game that’s been hastily, and sparsely, updated, and was beaten to death in the womb by "Burnout 3" months ago. Just like 20” rims and a spoiler on a 1984 Volvo, this game may turn heads, but where it counts most it’s a phoney.

If you like deliberately subjecting yourself to frustration for little or no reward, surrounded by a group of idiots mocking you, super glue a coin to the ground and attempt to pry it away while screaming obscenities at the top of your voice. It'll be cheaper than wasting your money on this.

Typical EA first in the sense of unrelenting polish and presentation, of production values meant to wow you with glitz and glamour at every turn. Typical EA secondly in the sense of a don’t-rock-the-boat, stick-with-the-formula game that offers nothing new aside from a few odd bugs I’ve never seen in an RTS before.

It is complex, deep, challenging, and it is a title that requires a lot of patience. It is not much for presentation, but what it lacks in finesse it more than makes up for in gameplay.

A solid entry in the RTS market, but it's marred by appalling AI which detracts greatly from the single-player experience. Additionally, it's so similar in gameplay to Empire Earth that I find it hard to believe that it didn't begin its development as an add-on for that title.

The game tries to do too many things rather than focus on perfecting a single facet of the gameplay, and as a result Mario Tennis: Power Tour just misses the mark and ends up serving up a shallow, forgettable game.

It is a fine pinball game, though the difficulty of it seems to be lacking severely, the “Catch ‘em All” theme is still prevailing. At first, the game does catch your attention and shows its depth, but after a while, repetitiveness does drag down the fun factor a bit.

It absolutely defines mediocrity.

A great visual stunner and full of action packed fighting sequences that will keep you going even if the pitfalls kill you more than your enemies do. Great for rental.

It offers a unique take on the giant robot game type, and pulls off this new spin while still offering an enjoyable gaming experience.

Old fans will certainly appreciate it, and it has enough charm to compel those looking for something new, but newcomers should certainly be warned that it’s an unusual taste. It is time-consuming, repetitive and dull, yet it is also relaxing and vaguely satisfying.

The one thing that makes this game interesting is if you play the game as it’s supposed to be played, the other team will keep it relatively clean. If you start going out to pick fights, the people you beat up will remember you, and come back and beat you into a corner.

You spend too much time learning patterns, and not enough just running around blow stuff up.

For the real effect of the game, watch the movie before you play it. It really sets the mood. Even if you have seen this classic film before, watch it again. It makes the whole thing that much more scary.

Blatant lack of innovation and anything particularly new.

The game is insanely addictive, but it will only truly appeal to those with a modicum of patience.

The lockdown stick is a terrific addition, and is a step in the right direction for future basketball games to include in making the defense more player-friendly. However, the slow tempo and the blurry graphics completely bring down the in-game experience, which are really the meat and potatoes of any sports game.

NHL 2K7 never succeeds in rising above being an incremental upgrade over last year’s games.

Republic Commando feels malnourished, lacking in the fundamentals of both first-person shooting and squad-based command, and it is crippled by its simplicity and tactical hand-holding.

Merely an average action platformer. There are some bright points, such as an abundance of moves, and some interesting levels, but this is overshadowed by bland presentation and disjoined gameplay.

Despite the unnatural and unexplained control system, some graphical anomalies and downright terrible voice acting, True Crime: Streets of LA does manage to expand upon the open-ended style of Grand Theft Auto and others like it in some considerable ways. It’s a shame that the complex default control setup and strange camera behavior give such a negative first impression.

The game, while fully localized, is rich with Japanese iconography that gives it a decidedly Asian feel. The dog/watermelon/drum characters that dominate the on-screen activity are so bizarre that they cannot help but be endearing. The rest of the game's cast of characters is just as off-the-wall, and it is this offbeat cast that helps to further separate it from the competition.

A great game that is held back by a few problems, and a training system that will push your average gamer.

A perfect example of style over substance. On its technical side it's a flawless example of what can be done with the right technology in the right hands. In terms of content, however, it falls flat on its face by offering an extremely linear experience with very little replay value that ends up feeling more like walking through a carnival spook house than the trip through hell that it should have been.

A fun take on action role-playing games but ultimately ends up a little shallow, mostly due to the combat system.

If you can get past the learning curve of the game, it's a very new and fun experience that any strategy fan would enjoy.

So many little things were done right in Arx Fatalis that any fan of the computer role playing game genre owes it to them to pick this game up and give it a try.

The lockdown stick is a terrific addition, and is a step in the right direction for future basketball games to include in making the defense more player-friendly. However, the slow tempo and the blurry graphics completely bring down the in-game experience, which are really the meat and potatoes of any sports game.

It’s too focused on tricks to be a good racer, yet not not enough to be a competent skating game either. As such, fans of either genre are advised to give this one a pass.

If you’re trying to learn the game from the manual, you might be in for a slow time. However, once you get the basics of how the game is played, you’re going to be in for a treat.

While "Samba De Amigo" (the most similar thing to it) had graphical and stylistic touches that kept the gamer going, Donkey Konga feels languid, and lazy. While at first it is fun, you will find that any long experimentation with it will lead to boredom, or tears. Or both.

While it delivers much of the same experiences as before it is its refusal to evolve past its original makeup that proves to be its biggest hurdle.

A light-hearted romp through different RPG clichés and worlds that delivers just what it promises. It's fun, funny, and probably one of the best dungeon crawling action RPGs in our current generation. Of course, it's a tired genre, so coming out on top of it's predecessors is not a huge accomplishment.

A great concept and great technical achievement marred by a poor execution. It’s just not as creepy, scary, or thought provoking as previous entries in the series and the game-play itself is boring even when measured against the fact that the horror genre itself is really based on creepy atmosphere and scares and tight game-play execution tends to be an afterthought.

The only real reason to actually buy the game other than if you are a "King of Fighters" fan is to get the Xbox Live play out of it, which brings the competitiveness of the arcade to your home.

Nothing here will leave a strong impression one way or the other, and perhaps that in and of itself is a negative.

Collections such as these should serve as a punctuation mark on the series, and as such should come packed full of extras so that even those fans who already own the included games individually will feel enticed to return to the checkout counter. That isn't the case here.

So is it worth your 50 Messetas? If you like shooters, or are a collector of Atlus titles, I’d have to give a resounding yes. For anyone else, I’d call this one a renter. It’s easily completed in a weekend.

Should be one of the best racing games available, yet on the xBox it just comes off as slow and clunky.

Mercury has tons of potential, but it doesn't realize much of it. A sequel that added an autosave feature, perfected the puzzle designs and smoothed out the uneven difficulty would be an utter blast.

There are some bright points, such as an abundance of moves, and some interesting levels, but this is overshadowed by bland presentation and disjoined gameplay.

A light-hearted romp through different RPG clichés and worlds that delivers just what it promises. It's fun, funny, and probably one of the best dungeon crawling action RPGs in our current generation. Of course, it's a tired genre, so coming out on top of it's predecessors is not a huge accomplishment.

The recreation of Rome, while not completely accurate, feels like Rome, and the wilderness sections are likewise done well. The enemies, however, do tend to be a bit bland, and it doesn’t take long until it feels like the same enemy has been killed numerous times.

It may not be the deepest kid in the class, but it sure does know how to have fun at recess.

The stunts, however, steal the show, and really elevate the game beyond its limitations. From skydiving and parachuting onto the top of moving vehicles to jumping out of helicopters or launching tow cables at passing cars, Rico can do some things that games haven't allowed players to do before, and there's a lot to be said for enabling new frontiers.

The graphics are fantastic, and the presentation is more realistic and immersive than ever before. However, there's no excuse for the gutting of the very features that made the Madden series great.

Sixty-second load times every time the player moves from one event to another are almost unbearable, and had these been removed our review would have been much more gracious. It is almost tragic that such a wonderful game could be crippled by this singular flaw.

Well, while the majority of games included are great, some – like Toobin’, SPLAT!, and Vindicators – still suck, just like before. Also, each of the games keeps their controls and multiplayer options.

Nothing can save Pac-Man World 3 from feeling simply average, and that extends to the game’s presentation as well. This is not helped by some crippling technical issues, which are highlighted by an unmanageable and nearly-broken camera.

It’s a wonderful and unique experience that really shows a lot of polish.

There are reasons why 24 year old guys don't date 67 year old women.

Determining the lay of the green is near impossible without the slope grid (with is brought up with the white button), and even then, the grid is a square, it doesn't cover the entire green, and is difficult to read.

A great fast paced mech game for *one person*. *sigh*

The on screen combat in Robotech: Battlecry can get a little hectic at times. This can lead to confusion and panic, as it can quickly become unclear as to what is going on with so much happening on the screen at one time.

A charming return to the series’ roots and a pretty great handheld experience, but anyone other than the diehard Bomberman fan can safely wait for a preowned copy or a price drop.

What is there is well-done and highly enjoyable, just wish there was more of it. It's a good break for those getting tired of destruction and looking for fun, but not a "must-have" title except for the very hardcore DOA fans.

The stunts, however, steal the show, and really elevate the game beyond its limitations. From skydiving and parachuting onto the top of moving vehicles to jumping out of helicopters or launching tow cables at passing cars, Rico can do some things that games haven’t allowed players to do before, and there’s a lot to be said for enabling new frontiers.

Certainly a playable game, and it has an obvious appeal to a certain variety of gamers. However, if you aren’t part of that group, odds are one or more of those flaws in the game’s design are going to make it just about impossible to really enjoy.

There are some bright points, such as an abundance of moves, and some interesting levels, but this is overshadowed by bland presentation and disjoined gameplay.

Merely a mediocre licensed title with charm that falls flat after the tenth super is used in one fight. Its decent graphics and authentic voices from the show do little to improve its playability.

The real appeal of the game is in its visuals and production values, and these elements take a real hit on the Wii console. If you have the option to invest in one of the other versions, that’s the best route to take. The "novel" controls on the Wii are more gimmicky than fun in this particular title.

Game play stutters and disappearing goons are more common than they should be in this title, and it might be time for Koei to plan the next title in this series to be for a next-gen system.

The only real complaint is that the game is perhaps a bit too shallow. Most likely to be left as a rental for the masses, the game is nonetheless a fun and very original gaming experience.

Collections such as these should serve as a punctuation mark on the series, and as such should come packed full of extras so that even those fans who already own the included games individually will feel enticed to return to the checkout counter. That isn't the case here.

A fun, quick, stripped down turn based strategy game. Instead of placing emphasis on hardcore micromanagement, small worries like resource gathering and the like are taken right out of your hands and exchanged for some slight action.

A bland, generic first-person shooter that does very little to advance the genre, and is far from worth paying full price for at retail. The gameplay and graphics fail at being interesting, and the game's only high point is its sound design.

Even running through a level on the first try is more of a task than an adventure. And neither the gameplay nor the story are enough of an incentive to push through.

The driving missions are decent but frustrating, as it is sometimes difficult to know where the game wants you to go without a map.

While somewhat interesting in parts, most players will be only marginally amused by the effort, while those who grew up on the source material will be more inclined to come away feeling sadly disappointed.

There are times when Sonic Heroes borders on unplayable simply on the merits of its own camera.

What Bombastic offers is a new take on a classic puzzle game. Unfortunately this new take is far too complex for its own good as it attempts to build on an already terrific game.

This is not the "Baldur's Gate" killer people were hoping for, and I fear that once "Dark Alliance II" hits retail, our four Heroes will become but a distant memory for another 150 years.

It's a well made game from a presentation standpoint, but the bulk of the game is simply far too simple to keep any but the most hardened Kirby fan glued to his or her dual screens.

The implementation of the microphone peripheral is a huge misstep, but a limited number of players may still manage to eke some enjoyment out of its inclusion.

It's just a simple fact that Vexx brings nothing new to the table, and too much about the game comes off as unfinished and rushed.

A mediocre game, complete with pedestrian graphics and controls. It boasts no impressive innovations, and dubious balancing issues ruin any chance at gameplay variety.

Hopefully, if a sequel is made, we'll get more Prince of Persia and less Grand Theft Auto, or at least an amalgamation of the two that isn't so mind-numbingly dull.

Shinobi is, in a word, average. There are other adjectives I could throw at it, such a repetitive and frustrating, but I think average describes it best.