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.

It does a lot of things right, good graphics, multiple play modes, originality and solid on-court action. The pro tour mode is fantastic despite its frustrations. It is refreshing to see some originality in a tennis title.

It is is enjoyable, playable, and will find a happy home in any strategist’s library, hardcore or otherwise.

Although not all aspects of the game are as well developed as others, Banana Blitz's lively atmosphere, combined with its tight controls, challenging gameplay, and tons of replay value make it an easily recommendable title for any Wii owner looking for an original experience on their new console.

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.

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.

It is different - no doubt about that - but rest assured months from now people will still be talking about that game that turned convention on its ear and showed that there are still some ideas left untapped. It's just too bad there isn't more of a game here of which to speak.

While the core gameplay here is considerable, and is head and shoulders above most other imitative offerings from other developers, it is still exceedingly bare-bones.

Blowing up buildings and abducting humans may eventually get old for the more cerebral gamers in the audience, but Crypto's adventures pack enough charm and polish to avoid much criticism from anyone else.

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.

As entertaining as the single-player portion of Big Brain Academy is, this budget title really shines in the multiplayer experience. Up to eight players can take part in a single-card multiplayer session, and the game selection mechanic is pure, unadulterated genius.

Steambot Chronicles is a little weird at times, but in the end it is both fun and unique, and not many recent games can claim to be both – sandbox fans should definitely take a look.

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

Realistically, very little of the series’ gameplay dynamics were changed for Ridge Racer 6. The nitrous system is an evolved form of the one found in the PSP version, but beyond that, it is still a good old-fashioned Ridge Racer at heart.

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.

It offers enough frantic fun for any fan of the genre, and there are enough modes to entice anyone from the novice to the seasoned veteran.

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.

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.

It takes a popular character, and with the help of a unique visual style it immerses the player into the world so that they feel as if they are indeed taking part in an interactive comic book.

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.

Though press-turn fans may be a little dismayed at the comparatively-simple battle system, there is a surprising amount of depth once players go deeper into the game, acquiring more and more varied demons.

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.

The focus is clearly comedy, and though the game is easier and shorter than the average graphic adventure, the quality of the script, voice-acting, and even the end-credit song is worth the price of admission. Let’s hope they keep it up.

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.

The problematic A.I. in Red Dead Revolver is the game’s biggest disadvantage.

Atelier Iris isn’t without its faults, and it will not appeal to everyone – the humor is consistently tongue-in-cheek which will drive some people away. In all, though, this game is a rare treat for the traditional RPG enthusiast.

The game plays like a dream, too. Control is spot on, and never presents itself as a problem.

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.

Infected isn’t a game for everyone. For zombie fans and road warriors looking for three-minute bursts of intense action, it is an easy choice.

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.

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.

With the exception of the very first level (the Battle of Stalingrad) you hardly get the sense of urgency that you should feel while playing this game.

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.

An extremely viable alternative to the otherwise monolithic DDR franchise.

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.

It faithfully recreates the included games, and it also offers plenty of options to tailor the game to meet individual needs. A couple of bells and whistles help round out the package, but the 17 classic games are the real draw here.

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 problematic A.I. in Red Dead Revolver is the game’s biggest disadvantage.

A short, but decent title for snowboard racing, and not much else. The LAN option is a nice feature and can increase a player’s game value if they plan to take advantage of it. However, the lack of gameplay variety and light content really hurts the overall value of the game.

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.

Unfortunately, once players have spent much time learning to play the game, it reveals itself to be critically limited in content—there really isn’t much to it.

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.

A top-notch title and a must buy if you’re a fan of this series. It has everything you love about the series and more, even if it is a bit difficult.

If you’ve got three other players, the game becomes a blast to play—though it does border close to insane.

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.

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.

Putting it on the DS was an excellent decision. The touch screen abilities go a long way to keep the game innovative and fun.

It’s not the best FPS ever made, but it is one of the more action-packed and genuinely interesting titles to come out in recent memory.

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.

A great game for action lovers, even though it lags at points. It doesn't quite compare to the total immersion of "GTA3," but when you're more kicking ass than Charles Bronson and looking better than John Shaft while doing it, who cares?

While visually lacking, this shortcoming never manages to detract from the game's single or mutiplayer offerings. Cold Winter is an altogether solid package.

While far from perfect, this game exudes the same charm that made Wild Arms such a cult phenomenon, and those who can look past its occasional shortcomings will find Alter Code F to be a classic to be treasured for years to come.

A very interesting demonstration of the DS's capabilities, but it is not exactly a worthy successor to the classic puzzle games of the past.

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.

Precisely what the second volume in a saga should be. It continues the story, and it develops the characters involved with the story... Hopefully, the next installment will propel the story forward a bit more.

The game succeeds, though perhaps not as brilliantly as past iterations. Musical taste is always a subjective criteria, but more objectively it could be argued that SuperNOVA is a case of too many musical cooks spoiling the broth.

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 best thing about this release, though, is that the gameplay for both titles is some of the best the King of Fighters series has seen since "King of Fighters ’98." Both games are exceptionally fast paced and offer a wide variety of characters.

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.

The nunchuck-only method, which has players tilting the device left and right to move, seems odd, takes some time to get used to, and really just comes off as clunky and inaccurate. The nunchuck/remote combo works well mostly, but aiming with the analog stick can prove bothersome when the action gets heavy.

The music is pretty cheesy, but the sound effects are spot on perfect. From the radio chatter to the roar of the engines, the audio in Lethal Skies II is a rich tapestry of eardrum nirvana.

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.

It does everything it sets out to do very well, but it’s not very compelling beyond the obvious nostalgia value.

With the exception of the very first level (the Battle of Stalingrad) you hardly get the sense of urgency that you should feel while playing this game.

What really pushes God Hand over the top, though, is the presentation and how fun it is. In other brawlers, you’re restricted to punching guys in the face or kicking them in the stomach. God Hand finally lets you kick that stupid demon that’s been giving you trouble right between the legs.

Earth 2160 is competent, and while it doesn’t break much new ground, it is nonetheless a decent game.

It has a few minor flaws, but the overwhelming amount of fun this game offers more than makes up for it.

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.

Such games are rare, and I consider Contact to be a triumph of development. But, putting aside my assessment of its artistic merit, Contact is really just a fun, engaging RPG that Nintendo DS owners have been waiting for ever since the system was released.

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.

Excite Truck is a very fun, fast, and – dare I say it – exciting return to grass roots arcade style racing. There no tuning to worry about, no license tests, and no underground street cred here. All of those things can be found elsewhere. Excite Truck is just about racing, and it excels in this regard.

As it stands, it feels like the exact same multiplayer game that was offered a year ago. While a great deal of fun, this does little inspire existing players to jump from the equally entertaining SOCOM 3 to this latest game in the franchise.

Add in the co-op mode, and it comes down to the fact that if you've ever liked any first-person shooter, you should pick up Serious Sam II.

It's not the best FPS ever made, but it is one of the more action-packed and genuinely interesting titles to come out in recent memory.

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.

Nearly everything about the game is antiquated, yet at the end of the day it delivers a more fulfilling experience than many, more “advanced” Role-Playing titles.

This game is ideally suited for players looking to relive Samurai Warriors, or who are diving in for the first time. For anyone who got their fill of Samurai Warriors the first time around, there isn't enough here to warrant your attention.

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.

It's considerably derivative and it doesn't bother with experimental gameplay or ideas.

It is, in essence, the perfect example of how to make an engrossing, addictive game through the most minimalist means.

Despite its flaws with pacing and the emphasis on role-playing clichés, Tales of Legendia is a very enjoyable game. The disappointment here stems largely from the fact that many fans hold the Tales series to a relatively high standard and expect a certain consistent level of quality across all facets of the experience.

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.

Super Dragon Ball Z takes the best elements of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball universe and meshes them with solid fighting mechanics to deliver a one-two punch that all fighting game fans should enjoy.

As an RPG it is only slightly above average, though considering the anemic state of the Xbox platform in terms of this genre fans have little choice but to dive in and experience it for all that it is worth.

It isn’t for everyone, but those who enjoy taking part in seemingly endless combat should find more than their fill here.

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

The gameplay is well done and the game offers that certain feeling of accomplishment, as players must build, maintain, and race the car of their making. This feeling alone will keep many players coming back for more.

It’s a simple, if utterly engrossing game with a concept that appeals to the kid in all of us.

Lovingly crafted by aficionados of the genre, but ultimately suffering from feature creeping and a desire to include all things presumably cool. However, in the end In The Groove lacks the professional polish to be anything but mediocre.

The whole game plays faster than FIFA 2006, as here EA has managed to set the perfect pace for soccer.

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.