It's certainly nice to have a real focus on multiplayer this time around-especially since that's when the game will see the most use, anyway-but the loss of the campaign mode is a real downer.

It’s certainly nice to have a real focus on multiplayer this time around—especially since that’s when the game will see the most use, anyway—but the loss of the campaign mode is a real downer.

With better visuals, more side quests, and an enthralling story, Baten Kaitos Origins will keep most role-playing enthusiasts glued to their controllers until the very end.

It’s nothing revolutionary, but for a launch title it serves its purpose—portable baseball befitting any plane ride or waiting room.

Although controls are clumsy and some technical sacrifices had to be made, the added single player and multiplayer content makes Showdown a much longer-lasting game than its rent-worthy predecessor.

There are enough things that feel distracting to keep this from becoming a classic game, but a strong enough foundation of gameplay and direction to make it a worthy addition to the console library.

The game is a penny shy of twenty dollars, and for that price, if you remember any of these games there is no reason not to pick it up and relive those days spent hunched 'round a cabinet, stubbing out cigarettes on the top and hoping the manager didn't see.

What it really comes down to is the cinematic experience, and at $30 for ten hours of single player campaign plus a fairly passable multiplayer, it’s roughly comparable to a few trips to the movies.

They took the issues that were problematic from the first title and did away with them. More importantly, Mercury Meltdown breathes new life into a handheld machine that is beginning to look more and more like an asthmatic reaching for his Albuterol.

The lack of any significant multiplayer hurts as well, and may very well be a deal breaker for some. Still, Jaleco has brought a quality RTS title home, and the world may never look at these games as best suited for PCs again.

The only major complaint to be made about Psi Ops is its use of a checkpoint save system. While not always the case, this system has a way of making a bad situation worse by leaving a player with nothing save for a death wish just because they happened upon the checkpoint ill prepared.

It's a considerable improvement over the last two games, and is a step towards putting up a fight with the THQ line of games for supremacy of the console-wrestling genre.

It is incredibly easy to screw up and get killed in this game, which sometimes forces you to repeat lengthy and difficult sections of each level. Thankfully, there are mid-stage save points that allow you to restart there instead of at the beginning of the level.

The game is a penny shy of twenty dollars, and for that price, if you remember any of these games there is no reason not to pick it up and relive those days spent hunched ‘round a cabinet, stubbing out cigarettes on the top and hoping the manager didn’t see.

"Third Strike" is, arguably, the definitive 2D fighting game on the PS2.

Like any other sports title, NASCAR 07 isn’t going to make converts of the uninitiated, but it’s a remarkably immersive game experience for the stock car racing faithful, and that lands NASCAR 07 for the PSP on victory lane and not pit row.

The gameplay found in Zoo Keeper is both simplistic and addictive.

For anyone who hears the name Abobo and is instantly harkened back to a simpler, better time, Double Dragon Advance is a must buy.

For the low price of $20, anyone who likes combat flight sims at all should pick this up. It's accommodating to “newbs” and veterans alike, and it's also really really fun.

The thing Myst IV does so well, just like its predecessors, is completely pull you into the game world such that you are only dimly aware that you are sitting on your couch at 4 a.m. in "real world" hours.

While NHL 07 completely nails certain facets of the game, it definitely isn’t the complete package. This franchise certainly has the appearance of going places, but it may be another year or two before it finally proves itself as the best game on the market.

Unfortunately, the end result is a game that falls somewhere in between the two extremes, and will likely satisfy neither the main-stream gamer they were trying to court, nor the hardcore strategy fan they had in their back-pocket.

MTX brings all of the excitement of the motocross circuit home in an arcade/simulation racing title that comes bundled with an absolute abundance of features and options, not the least of which is online game play.

If you’re looking for a showcase title to impress your friends, this is it. But, I think focusing so much on the visuals takes something away from the game. Its gameplay is far more impressive, and the fact that the art design has trumped every other action title out there is just icing on the cake.

Touchy controls and a story mode that is over almost before it begins are the most glaring oversights to this game. However, the realistic AI, wonderfully stylish presentation, and overall fun to be had with R: Racing more than make up for any shortcomings.

This set is reasonably priced, and features two of the most playable fighting games to come along in years.

There's fun to be had, and those looking for yet another racing game have an option in what EA has put together here, just don't expect to be floored by what is essentially just a rehashing of ideas we've all seen before.

If you love first person shooters, or stealth, or being able to break chairs over people's heads, and then swing away on a grappling hook, than this is for you.

One of the best action games to come along in recent memory. It’s unfortunate that the experience ends so quickly, but few games twice as long leave behind such a lasting impression as remains after completing this adventure in the Old West.

With a ton of extras, a full cast of Darkstalkers characters, and an excellent multiplayer network mode, Capcom really pulled out all the stops for this game. Minor complaints could be made—such as the PSP's stiff directional pad and some noticeable load times—but fighting fans on the go will be more than pleased with this product.

This is a simple game about simple fun, and everyone owes it to themselves to try it out to get a taste for what the Wii may in fact have in store for us all very soon.

While Evidence caters to a specific crowd and has some extremely difficult puzzles, the story, presentation, and feeling of actually partaking in some serial killer’s twisted game all add up to make this title - along with its prequel - still some of the most unique and highly entertaining adventuring to come along in years.

It has a decent, well-acted story and interesting characters but fails to leave a lasting impression. The Online Multiplayer is hands down awesome and a must have for any Xbox Live aficionado.

The developers clearly have a lot of passion of the material this game immerses players in, and even if you don’t go ga-ga for cannons and grog you can’t help but feel that affection come through the game play experience.

Everything about the game's gameplay is entertaining.

The mechanics are solid, and while not as deep as Lumines - Mizuguchi’s previous PSP outing – the game is easy to learn, difficult to master, and best playable for short periods of time.

A fantastic ride, with all of the highs and lows of a classic. There are areas for improvement but these are eclipsed by a terrific story and solid game mechanics.

The game is a penny shy of twenty dollars, and for that price, if you remember any of these games there is no reason not to pick it up and relive those days spent hunched ‘round a cabinet, stubbing out cigarettes on the top and hoping the manager didn’t see.

Deeply amusing, dramatically fresh, and incredibly novel.

Everything about Apex's visuals set the bar for future racing titles. The way the game uses reflections to make everything look shiny and new is simply stunning.

Save for a superbly annoying final level and boss, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles is a quality game in most every respect...To play this as just a single player title is to do the entire effort an injustice.

Don’t let the movie license scare you away. The game looks good, controls well, and is entertaining to play. Vicarious Visions did a great job with the license here.

In fact, the only thing that Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg has in spades other than cuteness is aggravation. Honestly, this is the electronic equivalent of that puppy that tears your sneakers to shreds yet is so adorable that you cannot help but love it.

Vengeance both upholds the tradition set by Tribes and Tribes 2 in the multiplayer side, and presents a decent single player campaign as well. First person shooters may be a dime a dozen these days, but it's not too often one is released that breaks the mold and offers a truly unique gameplay experience.

It’s a solid package with tons of content, and it is very successful at giving players lots of options for playing poker.

The only major complaint to be made about Psi Ops is its use of a checkpoint save system. While not always the case, this system has a way of making a bad situation worse by leaving a player with nothing save for a death wish just because they happened upon the checkpoint ill prepared.

This is not going to leave players breathless or have critics singing praises of innovation, but Thief: Deadly Shadows does the franchise proud by delivering a solid, worthwhile, and memorable game experience.

Simply too good an opportunity to ignore. Newcomers will enjoy exploring two of the best RPGs on the Game Boy Advance, and veterans will love experiencing the best of their features without the worst of their flaws.

Anybody looking for a good, mindless, old-school shoot 'em up, is going to be completely satisfied with this game. If you can turn your brain off for a while and just kill some bugs, then BlowOut is the game for you.

There really isn't much meat to Zooo, other than the simple main game, but what's there is certainly fun for at least a while.

An above-average adventure game with some very well done elements, but it’s nothing revolutionary, either. If you want the best this genre can offer, go out and buy "Syberia 1 & 2" instead of Still Life.

This one’s for the hardcore only. Those who already own FIFA 2004 and are happy with it, or are only casual soccer fans, shouldn’t waste their time because you’ll notice little different between the two titles.

Newcomers and poker addicts alike should all be pleasantly surprised by World Championship Poker 2's simple, easy to learn interface and addictive gameplay.

The only real problem is that the game can and does feel very restricted, almost claustrophobic in how it drags you along from area to area, and plot point to plot point. There is next to no sense of getting to explore on your own.

One of the easier Castlevania titles to come along in some time, and its relative short length further magnifies that.

This one’s for the hardcore only. Those who already own FIFA 2004 and are happy with it, or are only casual soccer fans, shouldn’t waste their time because you’ll notice little different between the two titles.

So yeah, MGS2 is a great game. It's just a pity that the game is so often hamstrung by its own plot, which, whilst fun to puzzle out, is ultimately quite silly and forces so many frustrating cutscene interruptions.

It is Geist's multiplayer component that manages to outshine the single player game, delivering a tremendously entertaining multiplayer experience, and fun to be had by all involved. However, after the thrill of multiplayer has passed, it is unfortunate that the single player game is not more equipped to pick up the pieces.

Newcomers and poker addicts alike should all be pleasantly surprised by World Championship Poker 2‘s simple, easy to learn interface and addictive gameplay.

The wonderful mechanics and aural and visual treats are simply not enough to lift this game above its own lackluster narrative.

My only real complaint with this game is the length. It's far too short - taking around three hours to complete, at the most. It can't possibly take more than three hours, in fact, because there's a timer built into the game.

Players who don’t enjoy the unforgiving gameplay might find Trauma Center off putting, but most gamers will relish in the intense experience.

100% completion can be had in a few days play, and after that I am afraid the game will be yet another dust magnet on the shelf. In that time, however, players can experience a truly well made, and magical game.

Delivers in terms of pure excitement and plain and simple fun. The game packs in more than enough challenge to keep even the seasoned RTS veterans gritting their teeth, while the online component is sure to keep most any player giddy.

A well-made game, especially when you consider that it was put together in an almost unfathomable 10 months.

This one’s for the hardcore only. Those who already own FIFA 2004 and are happy with it, or are only casual soccer fans, shouldn’t waste their time because you’ll notice little different between the two titles.

With its accurate presentation of World War II, and difficult game play, Burning Horizon is a game that only the most skilled strategists will get the most out of.

Namco has taken your typical run and gun action game and stretched it a bit further with a well written story, and innovative mechanics that, while sometime less than perfect at times, still mange to do more than just get the job done.

If you have a group of friends to play it with, give DDO a try. It'll certainly fill a few weeks with fun, but don't expect lasting playing power. Redundancy, the bane of all MMOs, is here aplenty.

Peerless as a simulator, no doubt about it, but as a game it has its failings. Despite the efforts of the developers, it is doubtful that anyone who is not at least partly interested in the simulation aspects of the game will enjoy it at all.

It is a great quest game that is definitely aimed to appeal to the generation of gamers that grew up in a time when the adventure game genre took center stage.

Minor issues aside, if you don’t mind a short play time and you enjoyed the first, the expansion should subdue your craving until a true sequel is released.

The humor level here is really high, though, and I got more genuine laughs from the cutscenes than from any other game or movie in recent memory. For that reason alone, Armed & Dangerous is absolutely worth playing.

For the Xbox, the game has gotten a bit of a facelift, but only for the characters. The courses are laid out the as the PS2 version.

If you can get the multiplayer to work for you, or have friends in the room with you to play with, the game can really show its colors. Still, with the single player campaign only taking 8-10 hours to complete, this may be best played as a rental.

The creatures of The Suffering are abstract, bizarre, and downright grotesque, and there will be more than a few times where players will quietly curse at themselves for attempting to play the game in the dark.

The Nintendo DS is particularly well-suited to deliver an authentic wizarding experience, with the stylus acting almost perfectly like a wand.

The game is also quite easy. Baku is able to practically heal on demand, so even boss fights basically go on until you win.

My only minor complaint is an aesthetic one: I like to see my guns in a FPS, and not seeing anything at all except an open screen with a cursor on it is somehow not as satisfying and can tend to lead to some inaccuracy when shooting.

Repetition, weak A.I., and a general unpolished fell keep this title from meeting the lofty goals one might place on a game based on such a great film.

While many adherents of The Sims franchise will lament changes to the Story mode, The Sims 2 for the console market is a seriously strong entry in the series. It simply doesn't get better than this when it comes to playing god from a La-Z-boy.

While the game banks on the same fun, though admittedly repetitive gameplay for the entirety of the experience, the key word is fun, and with more than enough style with which to coat the experience, Pursuit Force should make any action junkie on the go very satisfied.

As brilliant and unique as Electroplankton is, there just isn't enough here to keep most players – myself included – entertained for more than a few minutes before moving on.

For what it does right, the game can’t seem to keep from dropping the ball. Combat is a key component in many RTS titles, and here the whole concept just falls flat.

It does it's job incredibly well, creating a hard core totally realistic flight sim that puts the player in full and total control of everything. Perfect for a flight sim enthusiast, or someone who wants to become a pilot. However, the game losses a point for having such a difficult learning curve due to an over-abundant number of options and controls, and the lack of a nice training mode to get players accustomed with the game.

The issue here perhaps that the SSX franchise was not yet ready for another sequel, and EA’s attempt to further cash in on their past success has resulted in a game that is inferior to its predecessors.

While many adherents of The Sims franchise will lament changes to the Story mode, The Sims 2 for the console market is a seriously strong entry in the series. It simply doesn't get better than this when it comes to playing god from a La-Z-boy.

While the PSP version does sport a lush graphical pallet and nearly infinite replayability derived from unlockable skins, the version for the Nintendo DS trumps this with more variety, modes, and a more colorful presentation. However, it is the touch screen and the ability to drag pieces vertically rather than use buttons (though one opponent’s special attack temporarily disables stylus use) that is key in making this version more enjoyable.

On the visual front, everything about Runaway: A Road Adventure screams style. Rather than going with pre-rendered backdrops and stiff CG animated characters, Runaway instead gives us beautifully detailed cartoon landscapes populated with very animated, and believable 2D and 3D characters.

If you’ve played "Final Fantasy Adventure" and were looking to have as great of an experience with this game, you might be a little let down. Thankfully, Sword of Mana does not continue the downward slide that the Mana series seems to be suffering from in recent installments.

Naruto is an unapologetic button masher, but its single-minded combat is a perfect compliment to the game’s always comical, sometimes hilarious wit.

New scenes, sets, vehicles and costumes expand the boundaries of what creative minds can accomplish, and the breadth of this new content is very generous.

A wonderful example of how to craft a fun and exciting game out of a genre that is ageing poorly. This game shows that there is still some life yet in the hack and slash RPG, and for that I am grateful.

The responsivness of the controls, as well as the forgiving nature of the action button make this game very intuitive.

Basic reading ability is required-which is a bit disappointing, as voice actors would have made this a slam dunk for children too young to read-but it's an otherwise simple and straightforward title that should provide hours of enjoyment for the adolescent set.

For twenty bucks you could do worse. Get it, play it, and enjoy it. Heck, you might even learn something.

Players looking for a great party game can’t really go wrong with Karaoke Revolution Country, and if ever there were a party game for the country boy in all of us, this would be it.

Despite long load times and somewhat questionable AI, Rainbow Six: 3 sparkles with the freshness of a newly scrubbed kitchen floor.