The experience is analogous to an elaborate board game in which the board and architecture change from mission to mission—much like Hero's Quest (fantasy setting notwithstanding). It may not be a typical Metal Gear title, but it is a very robust game and it is worth a look for those yearning for something different.

More than just a well-designed puzzle game, Lumines has that rare spark that turns a simple task into a trance-inducing experience. It is a game with lasting appeal, and it is arguably the best title of the PSP's launch.

The largest problem, however, is how repetitive the quests become after extended play.

It follows the same storyline the past 53 DBZ games have, and the limited tactics of the fighting system reduce it to a button-mashing contest.

What it does do is take the simple, tactile pleasure of solidly built FPS action and inject it into such a staggeringly wide variety of situations, contexts and scenarios that putting down the pad after a heavy blasting session is genuinely difficult.

What it does do is take the simple, tactile pleasure of solidly built FPS action and inject it into such a staggeringly wide variety of situations, contexts and scenarios that putting down the pad after a heavy blasting session is genuinely difficult.

Offering vibrant graphics backed by precise controls, this iteration in the Wipeout series gets everything right. Sony should be applauded for executing subtle improvements on the original Wipeout formula, instead of "updating" all the fun out of a classic.

The large number of characters and arenas to fight in will keep younger gamers happy for a little while, and you really can't beat the twenty-dollar price tag.

There is no excuse for this--no excuse at all. Driver 3 was a disaster. It was boring. It was sluggish. It was thoroughly buggy. Basically, it was as enjoyable as spending an evening smashing your fingers into pulp with a large hammer.

Bottom line, if you can look past the technical gripes, Act of War: Direct Action is a very solid RTS game with a fantastic story.

The action is too slow, the camera is poorly implemented, the gameplay is repetitive, and the story is clichéd. The only redeeming qualities are nifty “manga” shaded graphics and an interesting combo-learning system.

Aurally Cold Fear truly excels in many areas. The sound effects fit the atmosphere perfectly, and the industrial soundtrack couldn't be better presented.

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 has some issues, to be sure, but the combat can be quite engaging and most of its strengths outweigh its few flaws. Spawn-camping aside, it is one of the most interesting titles to come out this year.

First, no Xbox Live! support. A game based almost entirely upon the multiplayer experience should certainly utilize the tools available on a system like the Xbox.

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

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.

It’s not a fun game and it’s certainly not balanced. Stay away if you enjoy such buzzwords as “gameplay,” “graphics” or “fun.”

Without the bongos, the game is a by-the-numbers action platformer, but it's amazing what such a simple change can mean for the overall experience.

Pretty standard fare, but Rave Master handles the traditional health bar system in a completely unique way.

A few minor improvements have been made here and there, but this sequel doesn’t fix what wasn’t broken to begin with. It remains an utter blast, online or off.

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.

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.

Therein lies the major problem with Brothers in Arms gameplay mechanics; it uses the whole tactical element as a crutch, but there's nothing really "tactical" about the way the game ends up playing out.

University demands a lot from the player to achieve success.

Republic Commando feels malnourished, lacking in the fundamentals of both first-person shooting and squad-based command, and it is crippled by its simplicity and tactical hand-holding.

The graphics are stunning, the gameplay is top notch, and the presentation is just shy of perfect.

It’s clear that Tekken 5 is a great game, but the lack of online play is a significant disappointment. There is quite a bit of replay value in the offline package, but the ability to take the aggression online would have made for an astronomical value and elevated the series beyond the contention of its peers.