A surprisingly well made game, especially when compared to its boring counterpart on the PS2.

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.

If Pac N’ Roll had been on any other system, it would still have been a fun game, but the way it plays out on the DS is just magic.

Swinging the remote with such precision will give her a better idea of what the Wii is capable of than anything else on the market right now.

There are so many details packed into this game that the learning curve is not so much a curve as it is a cliff and more than a little persistence will be required to get anywhere in this game.

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.

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

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

Though hardcore 4X fans might stay away due to the game's melting-pot depth, DarkStar One is a fun career-oriented romp that deceptively allows for a lot of personal freedom in play style in a style similar to Privateer that not many games have been able to recapture.

I found little not to love about this game. It reminds me of why I got into gaming in the first place. It is short, to the point, and every ounce of it drips fun.

Short game length, long load times, and high levels of frustration may regulate this game to a weekend rental.

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.

Graffiti Kingdom seems, like its predecessor, to be destined for cult status and niche appreciation.

The gameplay, the story, the graphics, the music, the voice acting ... it’s all imbued with such a central sense of style that the game just pops.

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.

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.

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.

It can be visceral and exciting and it does a good job of trumping its own redundancy by offering extensive skill trees for character advancement and continuously introducing new areas and adversaries.

The gameplay, the story, the graphics, the music, the voice acting ... it's all imbued with such a central sense of style that the game just pops.

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.

The use of physics brings a genuine uniqueness to the title, but it ends up feeling more like a gimmick than anything else. Without these physics, FlatOut would fail on all fronts to be memorable.

The racing in Cars is fun and accessible for children, and the story is appropriate for all ages, but frustrating mini-games and lack of direction at key points in a children’s game are both unforgivable oversights.

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 racing in Cars is fun and accessible for children, and the story is appropriate for all ages, but frustrating mini-games and lack of direction at key points in a children's game are both unforgivable oversights.

I'm giving this game three stars, because even though it's not perfect, It's better than having a babysitter who touches you.

Jaleco has brought a quality RTS title home, and the world may never look at these games as best suited for PCs again.

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.

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.

All of these varied creatures, along with unlockable Digimon and the multiplayer brawls make this game a solid title whether you are a fan or not.

For those who grew up on dungeon crawls, this is a title that can't miss.

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.

Metal Slug 4 & 5 are arcade-perfect translations of the latest entries into a classic series of games. They are thumb-numbingly difficult, though with infinite continues this challenge is undermined – making completing either game a matter of simple devotion rather than skill.

A spooky story to play through, and it doesn't hold anything back in terms of gameplay.

It is a larger and more ambitious title than the previous games, which is no easy feat as the X series has always been thought of as particularly ballsy.

The difficulty alone will put many off, while others won't care for the dark humor and cynical world view that ooze from this game. Those who do, though, will find their willingness to take a chance rewarded by a quirky but ultimately satisfying action adventure.

It’s got quite a few bugs that should have never made it past the testing cycle, including several glitches that cause the game to freeze up completely, forcing a hard reset to resume play.

There is enough difficulty, some intentional, some inherent to poor design, that will keep many players engaged until the end, but again, once it is over, Pac-Pix is likely to be shelved in favor of something more fun, and longer lasting - such as pizza.

A fun game that does a really good job of making you feel as if you are taking part in a classic-era Bond film. Unfortunately, the overall linearity and lack of a significant multiplayer mode ensures that this is a game that will be played through once, and then left on the shelf.

Rogue Trooper has some brilliance behind it. The game is exciting, fun to play, and it encourages multiple ways of taking out your enemies.

While the game may feel a little dated, and the graphic quality is not necessarily all the Nintendo DS can offer, it is a worthy addition to anyone’s Nintendo DS library, even if this may be the fifth time you find yourself buying the 1996 original.

Hearing your squad yelling in victory at a hard-earned tactical win or laughing at an unlucky shot in battle is a great feeling, and the best battles can create a story that people will be talking about days later.

A mere shadow of its current-generation brethren. Improved graphics are always great, but at the cost of features and fun, it just isn't worth it.

The most redeeming factor of the Shrek 2 game is the story and dialogue. The entire Shrek empire rests strongly on the shoulders of the Dreamwork’s writing staff and this game benefits greatly from their abilities.

But with all the complaints, the game is a hoot while it lasts, though it’s over before you really have a chance to get into it.

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.

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.

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.

The ten or so new missions aren’t anything special, and playing them on your PS2 might prove a painful experience.

Koei should stop feeding its fans new gameplay through an intravenous drip, especially if they expect them to pay for their games.

Scurge: Hive isn’t a bad investment if a player is seeking fast paced pick up and play action, but players who appreciate more depth in their titles should probably shy away.

It is absolutely impossible to recommend this game to anyone, and indeed adherents to the Sims franchise will probably like it less than the average joe for its cavalier disregard for franchise staples.

The Outfit, while it presents an interesting spin on the traditional take for a game of its sort, falls short of not only of its own developmental aspirations, but also of the rigorous standards of console gamers.

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

The sheer amount of weapons helps make the game more interesting as does its sense of humor. Though, I must admit that while the game can be quite charming, a lot of the jokes tend to fall flat.

Even the online mode feels lacking, supporting only one-on-one matches using either your custom character or an unlocked NBA star, rather than the two-on-two match ups available offline.

While not a horrible game; due to camera issues, a problematic story and dated graphics, Tenchu strikes in at average.

It is the game’s endearing story and characters, coupled with an intriguing adventure that help to make Trace Memory succeed in being truly memorable, pardon the pun.

The ideas are well thought out, but implemented poorly, and nothing can excuse the total lack of speed in a racing game.

The use of physics brings a genuine uniqueness to the title, but it ends up feeling more like a gimmick than anything else. Without these physics, FlatOut would fail on all fronts to be memorable. With them, it only succeeds in being only slightly above average.

Beyond the P.E.C. mode and faster gameplay, not a whole lot has changed since Black Arrow, which disappoints even the most meager expectations for change.

While the Bomberman franchise is chock full of potential, Bomberman Jetters squanders the good things it has going for it in order to serve up another dish of reprocessed mediocrity.

The devilish tracks and quick, pick-up-and-play nature of the mission structure result in a game that is perfectly suited for the PSP console, and gamers looking for something a little different could certainly do a lot worse.

With crisp visuals, pleasant audio and lots of content, it will likely find an audience, but those looking for the next great Donkey Kong game aren't going to find it here.

While the "Power Stone"-esque gameplay would probably appeal to most people, an overwhelming portion of the experience seems to require at least a passing interest in the anime. Still, it's a great package for what it is and I genuinely enjoyed my time with it.

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.

Looks and sounds the part of a goofy adventure game, and for the 10 or so hours it takes to complete players will be sure to enjoy its charms. It is far from a masterpiece, but it is the current highlight to the series.

The racing in Cars is fun and accessible for children, and the story is appropriate for all ages, but frustrating mini-games and lack of direction at key points in a children's game are both unforgivable oversights.

With three race varieties available, grand prix, time trial, and one on one boss races, and unlockable racers and paint jobs, Cars offers a fair bit of replay value.

If you are indeed intrigued then it's that sense of inquisitiveness that will, at the end of the day, carry you right through the slightly slapdash puzzles, past the occasionally repetitive combat, right through the final cutscene and, if you're anything like me, onto endless debate about the game's ending.

It seems as if those at Midway decided that the “hook” they would use in the game would be the good Doctor’s ability to change into various inane things, such as a spider or squirrel. The whole game in fact is based around this concept, and it is easily one of the most contrived, useless gimmicks I have seen in a game to date.

Its impact is muted rather significantly by the age of the engine, but it still succeeds in being rather unlike anything else released this year.

Bottom line: if you like adventure games, this one is okay—but you won’t be doing yourself any disservice by GameFAQing your way through it.

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.

The final nitpick I will make is the load times. Dear god! They are easily over a minute. It's like the code for the game is being written on the fly between levels.

Short of being the Halo-killer it was promised to be; the game design lacking focus, the graphics lacking variety, and the multiplayer lacking players.

The biggest folly, however, is that instead of building upon the establish lineage that fans have come to expect and enjoy, Wild Arms 4 breaks away and tries to be something wholly different, and in so doing succeed only in alienating existing fans.

It brings the phenomenon to the GameCube, and while far from being the best the DDR the series has to offer, in the final analysis it could have been much worse.

It’s simple without being easy, and it’s fun without being frustrating.

For fans of action role-playing games, especially those who enjoyed the source material, Monster House offers a reasonable amount of value. If Monster House has one flaw, it's that it may be a bit too difficult for its target audience, specifically younger fans of the film.

If you’re looking for a portable sports title or just like the Mario sports series, you’ll certainly have a good time with Mario Hoops 3-on-3, but the slightly clunky controls and lack of online play firmly cement this title in the rental category for the majority of gamers.

It features a generic, yet well-delivered plot that is dragged down by average gameplay, a lack of substantial difficulty, and sound that can only be described as sub-par. However, it is quite stunning graphically, and might find a niche in the modding community.

It is innovative and uses almost all of the handheld’s non-standard features without seeming the slightest bit gimmicky.

Magical Starsign is the role-playing equivalent to bubblegum. It's a fun diversion, but far from substantial, instead resigning itself to being an interesting holdover until something more worthwhile comes along.

A good arcade-style basketball game to pass the time. Just keep in mind that the loading is atrocious.

It’s well-paced, fun to play, and has some chuckle-worthy dialogue at times.

The gameplay itself-though uninteresting-is still intuitive and responsive.

Players fond of the control methods found in games like Excite Truck should take notice, especially if interested in something a little more quirky and demanding.

Even with that lack of depth there is a lot of amusement here, as the characters are bright and vibrant and the game is actually rather funny as it unfolds.

The variety of gameplay styles is very lively and, for the most part, it’s a fun experience from beginning to end. It also does a good job of retreading the film and bringing the story home.

Even the online mode feels lacking, supporting only one-on-one matches using either your custom character or an unlocked NBA star, rather than the two-on-two match ups available offline.

For the most part, Maniax holds true to the KoF design, but it's also missing some of the style and heart that made previous iterations so successful.

If the software would have been tweaked a bit more it would have interacted a lot easier with Pelican’s amazing light rifle. However, even with having to adjust the brightness the player can still relive some of those arcade memories. This game is a must for light gun fans and should be skipped by all other players.

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.

For a racing game, Freaky Flyers offers a good deal of entertainment value. My main gripe is the speed, which is just too slow for a game centered on racing. Still, the game is fun.