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.

The expansion only changes the game on a strictly superficial level, although it does this extremely well.

If we've learned anything with time, it's that it is much better to be pleasantly surprised by a budget title than to be underwhelmed by a full-price title, and Cold War is a pleasant surprise indeed.

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.

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.

Fans of the previous games will love it, as it's really a continuation of the same game play, and has all of the same characters. It's got some solid mechanics, it can be quite a bit of fun, but it's very linear, and it can get fairly tedious once you've made a little headway into it.

Series fans will find a lot to love in this title, which offers an attractive, immersive, and most importantly, fun excursion into the world of J.K. Rowling's imaginative works.

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.

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.

If you are looking at getting this game but have a PS2 or DC already, go with those versions. But if you’ve only got an Xbox, then this version is probably worth getting.

Sometimes you just want to blow stuff up with extreme prejudice. It's for these occasions that Black was made.

DMC3, predominantly, is not difficult. It is an exercise in patience—in passing through agonising roadblocks to reach the border between frustration and fun, and the former wins out.

While it may not add much to the core game mechanics, the addition of varied and entertaining minigames make this a worthwhile purchase for fans of dance games such as DDR.

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.

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.

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.

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 definitely a neat little game, but there's nothing about it that demands an immediate purchase. It has no real replay value, and the trading/collecting aspect isn't compelling.

This is yet another sequel for the fans of the series that don't want anything more than a comfortable dip in the same old pool.

It's definitely a neat little game, but there's nothing about it that demands an immediate purchase. It has no real replay value, and the trading/collecting aspect isn't compelling.

In practice, it’s a forgettable game that offers less than its competition. Instead of taking an evolutionary step up from last year’s version of The Life, the game is content to shovel out more of the same.

Profoundly average. There's nothing really to dislike about it, but you've seen these gameplay mechanics so many times before the game boils down to going through the motions and seeing Animaniacs cameos.

Once seen to completion, Rule of Rose is unquestionably memorable, but as a game it comes well short of current expectations.

It’s very well-made; it just fits too well into its mold: the middle-of-the-road move conversion.

In practice, it’s a forgettable game that offers less than its competition. Instead of taking an evolutionary step up from last year’s version of The Life, the game is content to shovel out more of the same.

Provides one of the best Vietnam experiences. As a war game, however, it simply does not measure up to other offerings on the market today.

It seems likely the world will see more of DJ, and gamers should look forward to it; but maybe next time the movie should come out before the game.

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.