Nightshade isn't the sharpest depiction of ninjitsu out there. But we can't say it's entirely demanding of seppuku either. Some will enjoy the mindless mayhem, warts aside.

While there are many characters to unlock and compete with, it takes a long time to see any of them thanks to the incredibly slow rate at which you acquire powerful cards.

Sloppy combat controls hamper the fun, and the lack of online play really limits the multiplayer appeal on the Xbox. Just the same, it's a great-looking, enjoyable take on a classic.

It's certainly not a great game, and looks extremely dated, but still worth some shooting time.

Unfortunately, the difficulty level and the enemy AI have been dumbed down, making the game feel even shorter on the Xbox than it did on the PC. With six hours of play for single players and iffy Xbox Live play, go buy "Rainbow Six 3" or wait for "Halo 2" to drop at the end of the year.

An announcer might have been nice, but at least we're spared any potentially awful voice performances. You'll get more out of the game if you can get your GBA in on the action, but the mini-RPG isn't a bad addition.

While not without its minor shortcomings, Metroid: Zero Mission is damn enjoyable and perfect for blasting space pirates on the go.

It's not worth rushing out and buying four GBAs and link cables (you'll probably never use all that equipment ever again), but it's a must-have if you and your friends already have most of the required hardware and love multiplayer gaming. There's no other title quite like it.

So many excellent ideas are incorporated into this last outing, you'll be feeling the title's influence on similar products years hence.

You might enjoy the tough love of the strategy phase, or you might be so furious at unclear missions that the game doesn't feel worth it. The graphics are unimpressive, and the gameplay will be too simple for hard-core flight jockeys, but the good-looking replays are worth a mention.

During gameplay, be prepared to suffer through countless glitches, blurry textures, and clunky animation.

If you expect the budget price to reflect the game's poor online performance, you shouldn't be too disappointed. If you demand the same performance and quality in your games that you do in your cars, you'll probably want to pass this one over.

Some may say that Dark Alliance II is an average hack-'n'-slash outing with minimal replay value. We wish these critics the best with their crack habit.

A challenging, yet rewarding experience that encourages players to explore every nook and cranny. New jacks might want to step back, but seasoned pros will find plenty of challenge.

It's accessible, fun, and technically impressive, making it one of the better strategy games we've played in quite some time. Plus, it has laser weaponry and an angry Scotsman.

When you play it in bite-size sessions, you'll appreciate wading into a sea of overgrown beetles or phosphorescent foes, spiked baseball bat swinging. Despite a few design shortfalls, the gameplay succeeds admirably, as does its presentation.

A rental and possible purchase for fans. For anyone else, "hack Part 4: Quarantine is a repetitive action-RPG that isn't as interesting as its concept and is almost impossible to enjoy independently of the series.

All of these clichéd mission objectives wouldn't be so bad if the play mechanics were compelling. Instead, you just bolt around trying to shoot at enemies with weapons that are entirely too lame.

As a multiplayer sports game it's fast, furious, and fun, but gamers running plays out of the single-back set might want to kick this one around as a rental before calling an all-out blitz.

It's definitely not what most players have in mind when it comes to the speeding rodent, but for multiplayer-centric GBA owners, it's worth a ride.

The lack of guardrails leaves little room for error, and the camera often fails to let you know what's coming until you're already diving head first into a bottomless pit. That's the most common way to go.

The updated graphics and sound effects are an improvement, but the game is still inferior to modern PC games in this regard. Not to mention, there's something to be said for the massive community that may remain loyal to the original.

It's long, complex, and difficult. There's so much freedom of control and so many passages to discover, that it's hard not to find yourself completely immersed in this dark and dangerous world.

And although Blade & Sword tries to make it more interesting with the custom combo system, it's still boring. Make that, boring and tedious. The levels aren't even randomized, so incentive to play again as a different character is limited.

Once you get used to the quirky, low-budget sensibility One Must Fall: Battlegrounds is a decent fighter, especially for online play. But the random crashes really put a damper on the fun.

The limited units and resources make for tight, intricate matchups, and there are few models of the RTS that can claim to be as accessible.

And if the thought of cleaning up virtual garbage and keeping your sim familiar with the toilet isn't your idea of fun, steer clear. Love it or hate it, this is still "The Sims."

There's something inherently insipid about a game that simulates something already simulating something else. You can't help but wonder if fans wouldn't simply rather race RC cars instead of playing this game.

With a great core story and plenty of incentive to replay, Fatal Frame 2 is a horror-themed title that anyone should consider playing. If you're brave enough, consider playing with the lights off.

If you're looking for the ultimate racing experience, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Those of you who are patient enough to learn its intricacies, and open-minded enough to put up with its modest production values will find a rich experience.

Harmlessly addictive, if not wholly derivative. But it's great for the kids, and offers a satisfying, officially licensed Harry Potter experience.

What's most surprising is that titles such as "Pitfall" are still a lot of fun, and even the included sports games still offer a decent amount of replay value.

The humdrum gameplay won't convert anyone. Clumsy combat with fists or firearms makes up the majority, and the rest of the game is usually a glorified switch and key hunt... and not a particularly complicated one, either.

If you're already a fan of point-and-click adventure, then you'll probably dig it. If not, then get out the tissues and be prepared to be bored to tears.

Doesn't have nearly enough in the core gameplay to recommend to the average gamer.

An excellent gateway game. It's accessible enough for non-gamers to play, yet deep enough for the more hard core to enjoy as well.

One for the fans. While the fighting is passable, it's too shallow and strategically repetitive to hold any serious fighting freak's attention for more than a few minutes. Even if you're a fan, approach with caution.

In the end, it's almost physically painful to try to wade through this game, especially if you've already played it in its previous incarnations.

You get a capable, satisfying single-player game, access to many new prestige classes, a much higher level limit, and a wide assortment of new bits for the toolset. For the closet game designer, these additions alone are worth the price.

An aggravating save system makes the game almost completely unsuitable for taking on the go, and popping Surma in your Game Boy only amplifies the game's audiovisual ugliness.

For most players Operation Surma will feel like a stopgap measure until Sam Fisher returns for the next "Splinter Cell," despite its great gadgets and fairly solid play. It's just too reliant on this recently popular template, making every weak spot seem glaringly obvious.

Despite the wonky AI, the game mechanics are solid. And the rip-roaring story gets better with each passing hour. The problem with "Invisible War" is that it requires the player to stop bitching about every little detail and just enjoy the ride.

There are glimpses of genius here for sure -- the landshark gun, the topsy-turvy mine, and some of the level design and humor come to mind -- but it doesn't add up to a complete game.

With so much replay value in the multiplayer and a solid single-player experience to be had [in Pac-Man World 2], don't be surprised if you come down with a case of Pac-Man fever all over again.

Has fun, straightforward gameplay and a simple heart. There is a little more to it, like plenty of game-time extending side quests, but some of the extras just seem like coronary blockage.

Fans of the "1080" franchise will find that other games have left the franchise behind on the bunny slope. Rent it, ride the avalanche, and return it.

A hollow, stripped-down experience.

Takes an amusingly bizarre sport and runs with it, but just doesn't run far enough. Even the power-up--laden off-road courses feel uninspired, with unremarkably physics and control, middling graphics, and a general air of boredom throughout the whole production.

It's a full-fledged expansion pack that provides some great additions to the game. If you're new to "Disciples," this is the one to buy.

It's a gifted, but often-troubled arcade game that forsakes depth for good old-fashioned death and debauchery.

The weak, shriveled heart of "Armageddon" can barely pump the appealing lifeblood of the comic book series into this hollow shell. It isn't terrible, but it offers few reasons to complete the 20 or so missions.

The game tries to adapt the various keypad functions, and you can use an on-screen virtual Intellivision paddle, but neither works as well as the original hardwired controllers did.

This is hands-down, the worst videogame to ever see the light of day. Really.

A truly great party game -- both on and offline -- and is a terrifically original and energetic diversion from the dirge of shooters and other serious games that comprise the majority of the Xbox lineup. Just don't get caught playing alone.

Feels like a generic platformer with Looney Tunes characters pasted on top of it. All of the irreverent one-liners in the world can't save it, and neither can half-hearted appearances by supporting characters.

An original game with a well-developed theme and a lot to do. If the fighting and voice acting had received a little more attention, this would surely be a five-star game. As it is, some gamers might have trouble taking the game seriously.

Its humorous tone and extremely satisfying random destruction really make it worth playing.

It's just one gruesome kill after another until the violence loses its punch. Too bad that happens after the first couple missions. If you want a stealth game, there are better ones out there. If you want blood, do yourself a favor a buy a tube of red dye #5, instead.

But what it does have is a visceral feeling of destruction few other games possess.

Fails on its own with boring level design and sloppy, unsatisfying gameplay. The vulgarity of the setting just makes it worse.

While the structure and sidequests are a little too hard core and not as good as we would've hoped for in the first true "Final Fantasy" sequel, Final Fantasy X-2 is a great game nonetheless.

Has its moments, but unless you're thrilled by the prospect of undergoing some tedious repetition to the beat of generic techno music in the name of your ninja training, you'll want to think twice about tasting this rusty, unpolished, ninja steel.

The core idea is worth further development, but leave this import in the garage while repairs are being made.

While the game doesn't look as good as it should, the gameplay and online support is terrific, and the focus on team play puts it in a class by itself.

One potential complaint with PGR2 -- the only one, really -- is the competing AI. While other drivers' performance is well scaled based on skill level, you'll find that these aren't the most imaginative bunch on the road.

More like an expansion team than a Stanley Cup contender. With a sharper focus on either realism or arcade play combined with more standout graphics, next year's version could be bumped up to the first line.

A surprisingly addictive, insanely frenetic multiplayer game that will delight "Magic" fans. But even those who've never played it (and maybe shot spitballs at those who did) might take a fancy to it.

Keep this one on the bench and hope that some off-season workouts can elevate it to starting status.

The absurd amount of sneaking around at the end of the game becomes overly tedious and a poor replacement for more exciting gun battles.

Gives a strong performance on a lot of levels, but finds itself stuck in the hangar when it comes to the actual feel of flying. It's a fun, challenging game, but far more attention should have been given to the physics and plane mechanics.

There's a peculiar lack of in-game music that, when paired with the spartan sound effects, makes the game feel lifeless.

On the downside, deep as peripheral options are, the title doesn't feel like much of a step forward from its predecessor, "Hot Pursuit 2."

Hard-core fans of old-school gaming will want to pick it up, but most gamers will find that the gameplay issues keep this set from being more than an occasional trip down memory lane.

The huge leap in quality and playability from last year's version qualifies it for one of the most improved sports games available.

Definitely scores a high Bond quotient, and it's a decent game in its own right. It's short and has a few problems with its driving sections, but it does throw in multiplayer options and a simple blackjack game for good measure.

This is as light and unpretentious as RPGs get. If the typical melodramatic RPGs make you laugh more than cry and you've grown tired of casting dragon destroyer +7, Mario & Luigi is just what the plumber ordered.

Even the most cynical gamers will have a hard time not being won over by its charms. In short, it's the type of game you bought a GameCube for in the first place and, thanks to its excellent multiplayer modes, has a lot of staying power.

The atmosphere helps make up for some of the deficiencies in the controls and overall stiffness of the game, but additional polish is needed if College Hoops hopes to be an all-American.

Once you have access to multiple Forges (they're connected by magic portals), it's easy to get lost in the endless curving hallways.

The wide variety of gameplay elements creates an intoxicating mix that will leave players yearning for more. And this is the game's primary issue. Just when you become fully immersed in all the game has to offer, it ends.

For many, it will simply be the fantastic graphics and sound that seal the deal.

If the game offered anything beyond a gimmick that grew stale three games ago, we'd have something to recommend. But with nothing more than generic button mashing and a sorry excuse for a career mode, Bloody Roar 4 is for die-hard fans of the series and furries only.

For those of you who haven't played the original Dungeon Siege, it's included with this expansion pack for free. This is a tremendous value. For pure monster-hacking goodness, it's really hard to beat Dungeon Siege.

The few moments of true excellence are sadly overshadowed by some dull level design and lackluster enemy AI. Still, the game provides enough juice to keep the avid "Medal of Honor" fan happy.

There's not a single thing wrong with this game. The diligence and creativity that have gone into it should be carefully scrutinized by anyone thinking of working on a similar project. Do yourself a favor and play it.

Stages are sterile clones of much livelier settings found in competing titles.

Strictly for Barbie collectors or fans of the show who have no understanding of what makes a good videogame, American Idol is a cheap rip-off of other, much better games, and an overall unimpressive attempt to cash in on a popular TV phenomenon.

This benchwarmer fails to meet the minimum requirements for a modern sports game and will continue to ride the pine until next year.

With slightly better play control and improved vector-graphics information, the collection could be a definitive representation of videogames from the late '70s and early '80s, but as it stands, it's a fairly average look at gaming's early days.

Sharp visuals, solid handling, and a rollicking soundtrack are joined by some slightly inventive play mechanics.

What should have been a fast-paced, movie-fueled action fest is bogged down by overly sluggish controls, Vaseline-smeared graphics, and a general lack of polish.

Takes golf videogames back to the '80s when it was a boring, elitist sport. It looks to have completely disregarded the shifting of the guard that took place when a certain tiger-striped phenom stepped onto the scene.

It's like the fine wine of videogames, and anyone who sees it in motion will be mesmerized. And if they play it? They'll be straight-up intoxicated.

Two words for Eurocom and THQ, though, concerning the next installment in the franchise: more Tutankhamen.

And on a rare personal note, this is the only game other than "Dance Dance Revolution" and "Animal Crossing" my wife has wanted to play. That has to count for something.

Playable (if you're lucky enough to avoid the movement bug), and it hits all the marks expected of a scrolling shooter. It's hard to applaud a game for being merely adequate, however, and Blowout's plainness will make it of little interest to the majority of gamers.

Even for an arcade action game, Maximum Chase is short and easy. You'll blow through the entire game in less than an afternoon. There are special objectives to beat in order to unlock things such as new cars and camera filters, but there isn't much incentive to replay this game once you've beaten it.