As a member of a series that takes a treasured place in the pantheon of gaming greatness, it is a lackluster effort, more concerned with watering down the game’s strengths to make it more palatable for the masses than in delivering more of what made its predecessor great.

I think the game may pose a greater challenge for adults than the young, but both will find the game frantic. Oddly, I never found the game frustrating, even after losing countless times.

As a member of a series that takes a treasured place in the pantheon of gaming greatness, it is a lackluster effort, more concerned with watering down the game's strengths to make it more palatable for the masses than in delivering more of what made its predecessor great.

As a member of a series that takes a treasured place in the pantheon of gaming greatness, it is a lackluster effort, more concerned with watering down the game's strengths to make it more palatable for the masses than in delivering more of what made its predecessor great.

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.

If you're already accustomed to suffering under "Everquest" or "Dark Age of Camelot," WoW will be your familiar stomping ground minus a heaping helping of the stupid stuff you've already grown accustomed to putting up with. If you've never played an MMO before, WoW is the least of many evils you could start with.

It presents itself as one of the best shooters to be released in a long while. It brings itself to the table as a purely fun game, modeled after a true classic, and doesn't try to impress with flashy graphics or a deep story--because it doesn't have to.

Playing as a villain should lift away the restraints that normally accompany the good guy role, and thus provide for a more liberating and refreshing gaming experience. Instead, EA has given gamers a window into mediocrity, and an affair that simply isn't fun.

Playing as a villain should lift away the restraints that normally accompany the good guy role, and thus provide for a more liberating and refreshing gaming experience. Instead, EA has given gamers a window into mediocrity, and an affair that simply isn't fun.

Playing as a villain should lift away the restraints that normally accompany the good guy role, and thus provide for a more liberating and refreshing gaming experience. Instead, EA has given gamers a window into mediocrity, and an affair that simply isn't fun.

It brings itself to the table as a purely fun game, modeled after a true classic, and doesn't try to impress with flashy graphics or a deep story--because it doesn't have to.

The developers at NCL have done a lot with the original game to give players a considerable amount of new content to keep the experience of playing a title that originated back in 1996 still feeling fresh and fun.

My advice: Set aside a larger budget for voice acting, and make sure the environments are as interactive toward the end as they are in the beginning. For players, don't expect a classic, because you won't find this game fulfilling that need. But as long as you set your expectations a bit lower, you should be entertained.

Beyblade G-Revolution has, nestled deep, the ingredients for a rather unique, fun title. As it stands, it is merely below average, marked by its lack of direction and uninteresting variety of Beyblades.

With all of the additions Viewtiful Joe 2 introduces, the game is still very similar to the first game, right down to a final showdown prefixed with having to fight all of the previously defeated bosses. Not that I mind terribly, as this is a functional formula that proves it still can deliver in spades.

It has all of the elements of a blockbuster movie mixed with the interactivity of a video game, resulting in an experience that is both invigorating and intriguing. In other words, this is game is a work of art, and needs to be experienced.

No matter what extras that are packed into a game, if the very fundamentals are as marred as they are here in this game, the title itself is impaired. ChoroQ could have been great is the racing itself were not so inadequate.

The linear storyline, inability to build your own house, and total lack of autonomy for the character under your control may turn diehard Sims fans away, while the number of mundane chores that are required to get through the game may repel those looking for a graphic adventure. To me, the game is a perfect mixture of both.

There is a learning curve involved in figuring out not only how to attune your attention to the game but also in how to shift this from play to play. However this learning curve is far steeper than in other DS titles.

Disclaimer: The game playing described in this review was supervised by trained professionals. It is extremely boring and should not be attempted by anyone, anywhere, anytime.

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

It's not entirely engaging or original, but it is fun. It's attractive, sounds nice, and the story-for all its faults-can be ignored safely with no detrimental effects.

The delivered promise of video games to stand alongside cinema and literature as works of art. It accomplishes this through extraordinary graphical and audio prowess, wrapped around a riveting story and conveyed by unsurpassed gameplay...It is, bar none, the finest game I've ever played.

It more than makes up for the mediocrity of the first Vampire PC game, and will satisfy even the most diehard bloodsucker.

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.

While there is nothing profoundly wrong with the game, it doesn’t put a unique twist on the game, it doesn’t have a large or comprehensive cast of characters, and it doesn’t look nearly as good as the competition.

Budokai 3 will rev your engine if you're willing to forgive it for its colourful, crazy, and unserious premise.

A decent game, but it is best described as an interesting diversion that serves as a showcase of things to come for the new console. Unfortunately players will have to decide if they want to drop down the money for an experience that, while unique, is over far too quickly.

It offers enough action for fans of brawlers to sink their thumbs and teeth into, and its controls are simple and intuitive enough for a novice to pick up and enjoy. Spider-Man 2 is one of the most enjoyable DS launch titles, and even outside of that thinking it is a tremendous effort and a fabulous game.

The addition of expansion sets raises the total card count to over 300, but it is the small improvements that bring life to the game and make it more worth playing.

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.

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.

The game is fun. Frustrating at times, absolutely, but for a budget-priced title, players can't really go wrong with Crash 'N' Burn.

It is a marked improvement to the formula, but gamers turned off by the slow pace or average execution are encouraged to look elsewhere.

It can be fun for a while, but in the end the sheer tedium of the whole affair will turn gamers’ attention elsewhere.

While Blinx 2 is nothing new, and definitely not brilliant, it is something that may be worth a rental for a few hours' worth of fun, if only to watch some of the FMVs and chuckle at the cats and their vacuum cleaners.

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

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.

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.

At a mere twenty dollars, the game may just be worth the frustrating elements and rather awkward beginnings just to get to the juicy core of the game. And with a bevy of features, the game does offer quite a lot for its price.

Luckily, the level design is fantastic, making every repeat through a level bearable, as many sections are just fun. Who doesn't love getting launched out of a barrel into the sky to swing from post to post while grabbing bananas only to land in a mine cart which travels the worst kept track in existence? Everything flows beautifully.

Despite the multiplayer faux pax, and the odd dispersion of items throughout the game, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes still comes out on top as one of the premier titles to experience not only this holiday season, but rather throughout this entire console generation.

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

Parents of these children will also enjoy this game--I laughed out loud more than once--but any experienced gamer will find it a transient challenge that is over much too quickly.

While considerably longer than the PC game of the same name, it is really not a lot of fun to play, whereas that game made me laugh out loud a handful of times.

It is a bit of a shock to return to the franchise’s roots after all the improvements that have been made across two sequels in the past year, but the addition of Live support may render many of these complaints moot within the next few months.

Almost everything in Rumble Roses is poorly done, from the controls to the graphics to the writing to the voice acting. It's cheap, it's sleazy, and it utterly fails as a game.

Nothing about the game is appealing or enjoyable at all. Of course, the saving grace for all mediocre fighting games is the two-player mode, so- wait- there's no two-player mode? Who releases a fighting game without a two-player mode??

The one thing keeping it from breaking 90%, I found the conclusion of the story to be a huge letdown. While several of the threads come to satisfying (And even surprising) conclusions, the major plot thread started in the first game was revealed to be, and I might be getting a little mean here, stupid.

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.

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.

Boasting another large assortment of popular tunes, Volume 3 also sidesteps the pitfalls of its predecessor with the inclusion of duets—a seemingly simple addition that changes the entire face of the game and elevates the series to a new high.

Its combat has potential, it’s built upon a solid engine and the game has some exciting moments towards the end, but the experience just isn’t fulfilling and the game is far too simple.

Marty O'Donnell has done an incredible job with the game's audio, and it may stand alongside the multiplayer component as the game's best achievement.

Crack has been refined and made anew with EverQuest II. It’s an addicting game as well as being very deep. It probably won’t be for the casual gamer, but anybody that enjoyed EQ will pick this up, and find the game more enjoyable then the original.

An interesting ride that takes only a few short hours to complete. Even with a few unlockable items, and a rather inane multiplayer romp that is forgotten almost before it begins, this game seems destined for obscurity.

As a Mario game, it is bursting with charm and laughs from all your favorites, and as a tennis game it is both solid and fun to play - Mario Power Tennis comes Heartily recommended.

For those that have shied away from the series because it is not as complex as other war shooters, you will be pleased to find this game a bit more to your liking. Be aware, however, that this game relies heavily on story and cinematic.

It's fun and unique for a little while, but the underlying lack of an innovative gameplay experience leaves the game too hollow for comfort.

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.

A fantastic example of what fun games should be like. Never mind that it makes some of the most gorgeous scenes you're likely to find on the PS2, the game itself is so good the eye and ear candy is just extra.

As the game stands now, it’s just too mundane, slow and...well...gray (either literally and/or figuratively, depending on your palette preferences) to really merit much applause.

It is a marked improvement to the formula, but gamers turned off by the slow pace or average execution are encouraged to look elsewhere.

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.

An extraordinary addition to the rhythm game genre. It offers simple, pick-up-and-play mechanics that are easy to get into, and significantly more difficult to put down.

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

It’s not the type of gameplay that’s going to attract a large audience, and players turned off by the slow-paced nature of trading card games will not find anything to like here, but it is an exciting game despite these shortcomings.

In all, if you are a fan of Texas Hold'Em, as I am, you will find some enjoyment in this game. Even so, the game wears thin on you after a short while. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this to anyone. The game is simply too vacant for it to warrant a purchase.

Quite possibly the most entertaining survival horror game one the market, and the enhancements Tecmo gave the Xbox "Directors Cut" serve only to enhance that reputation.

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 wonderful game, and an equally tremendous addition to the series. Fans of the series will find more than enough new here to warrant continued devotion, while it has been streamlined so as to be highly accessible to novices as well.

And while the difficulty will turn away those who either don't have the time to invest in learning how to pilot an aircraft properly or were simply looking for an arcade-style flight-sim, it shouldn't turn away many and the learning curve, while extremely steep, is also very short.

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.

The game at the core of Capsule Monster Coliseum actually borders on engaging, and as such comes incredibly close to being worth playing for those who aren’t fans of the series. But close, as they say, only counts for horseshoes and hand grenades: not PS2 games.

All I can safely say about the target audience is I'm not in it, and dollars to donuts neither are you.

Don’t touch this game with a 10-foot pole unless you sleep in Yu-Gi-Oh sheets in your Yu-Gi-Oh pajamas with your Yu-Gi-Oh plush toy. There’s nothing here worth looking at.

With tons of costumes, character information, CG stills and a plethora of extras you'll want to play this game for a long time to come.

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 winning combination of arcade-style mechanics and rich, engaging presentation. Of course this game is not going to win over players who have little taste for manic aerial combat, or those who were looking for something really different from the previous games.

It’s not entirely engaging or original, but it is fun. It’s attractive, sounds nice, and the story—for all its faults—can be ignored safely with no detrimental effects.

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.

Aesthetically, the first Otogi game was a real knockout, and Otogi 2 ups the ante considerably. In truth, there are few games on any platform that come close to this level of polish, and it's surprising the series isn't selling like hotcakes on the merit of its visuals alone.

It doesn't have much replay value aside from multiplayer battles, and the 28 arenas offered are uninspired and bland.

A lackluster game with too many frustrations for such little fun. The short length and lack of real replay value make it not worth picking up.

It's not entirely engaging or original, but it is fun. It's attractive, sounds nice, and the story-for all its faults-can be ignored safely with no detrimental effects.

Offers a decent gameplay experience as an action title, but doesn't live up to the Contra name. It's short, easy, and far too sparse on epic boss fights.

While fun, Crisis Zone is definitely the weakest game in the series. Its fast, over-the-top presentation comes at the loss of the series’ precision gameplay.

This is a terrible, terrible game. It's hard to believe that Konami could push something out like this.

The game play of this title is superb, if a bit difficult at times. It has a distinctive "Metal Gear" style of stealth action (indeed, you can even tap on walls ala Solid Snake and distract enemies) blended with fast paced hand-to-hand combat and some mildly amusing block puzzles.

This is a terrible, terrible game. It's hard to believe that Konami could push something out like this.

This is a terrible, terrible game. It's hard to believe that Konami could push something out like this.

The gameplay is solid, and even players who might otherwise be turned off by the game's cute style and cartoonish presentation could find themselves falling in love with the pink marauder and his band multicolored friends.

Behind all the problems, the tale of Atlantis and quest to liberate its inhabitants is interesting, and has potential to join the next generation of classic adventures. Instead, it seems more like a throwback to the mid-nineties lineup of marginal games shoveled onto CD-ROM.

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 too fast with not enough panache behind it to make it worthy of your time, compared to the now cheap "Soul Calibur 2." It has nothing that you cannot find elsewhere, and done better.

What I love about Nocturne is that the game forces you to play intelligently all throughout. At no point do you feel as if you are taking a backseat to the story or the occurrences on-screen. Absent-mindedly progressing through every battle will bring you straight to the Game Over screen. You have to strategize to be able to get through the game.

It’s the type of game that begs to played in short intervals, as a lack of gameplay variety causes the game to wear out its welcome rather quickly.

The new first-touch control, the games biggest innovation for 2005 and the catalyst for this change in attacking emphasis, is brilliant. It’s logical, easy to use, works as it should, looks realistic and can blow a game wide open.