A fairly solid title, but it falls short of the mark for a big "Sonic" release.

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.

As shocking, unsettling, and addictively compelling as a viewing of HBO's "The Sopranos." It's just that brilliant of a game. Capiche?

In many ways it's the best the series has to offer, but it's still probably not enough to haul in a new audience.

Strikes a careful balance between accessibility and the hideous complexity. And it looks good doing it.

Its swing mechanism is sitting in the light rough, but veteran golf gamers will drive it out without leaving a divot. If anything, it's odd that a golf game with so much color is so not wacky. But between all the unlockable options and excellent multiplayer mode, this is one golf game that won't leave you screaming for a mulligan.

It's one of the best sports games on the PS2, and it's definitely the best college game around.

You'd think such an impressive technical base would allow the game to take more risks, but that assumption doesn't prove true.

You'll often have so many paths before you in a dungeon it can be tough to wrap your brain around how exactly you can move forward, and the individual puzzles can be absolutely brutal.

This is the first baseball release in years that smartly walks the line between reality and fantasy.

A ton of different play modes await too, assuring you won’t tire of the disc anytime soon.

A testament to just how thoroughly a game can be improved in its second coming.

The camera is sometimes unwieldy, and for some bizarre reason can only be rotated around Jak, not moved vertically, though there is a first-person view that lets you look around. Beyond that, however, Jak and Daxter is an excellent example of a 3D platformer.

Frustration has always been a factor in the GTA universe, but never quite so much as in Liberty City Stories.

Judgment itself may not be anything special, but it's a good enough freebie to go with a legitimately great game.

We're certain a veteran shoot-'em-up enthusiast can blow through it in just two days. But you shouldn't write it off, either. For immediate thrills, not many rivals can match its sheer staying power and intensity.

The real meat is online though, and Unreal Tournament 3 doesn't disappoint. Rock solid framerates even during intense, large matches, and stable connections help make the game one of the best online fights out there.

A positive step forward for an already good series.

While it might look childish and basic, and the controls need some tweaking, there is more content and data tracking in this game than in any game you are ever likely to play.

It blends the genre lines seamlessly in a fast-paced game that is both fun and challenging. The new story line and gameplay improvements will appeal to fans of the original and it also does a good job of bringing newcomers up to speed.

While non-fans probably won’t dig in as much, this is still an exceptional example of the side-scrolling shooter. It looks great, plays better than ever, and the addition of a two-player option gives it significant staying power.

Digital Devil Saga 2 brings the strange story started by the first game to a spectacular, dramatic, and bizarrely calm end.

If you’re willing to put up with the whacky nature of Super Swing Golf, and you’re ready to accept a new approach to swinging, then you can’t go wrong with this game. There are lots of courses, neat items and equipment to buy, a long “Story” mode, and solid multiplayer.

The multiple ways to approach TOCA 2 are undeniably fun. And it’s really very impressive that Codemasters was able to pack so many different kinds of racing into one game.

Despite the knocks against rivals mode and the fact that the new controls are mostly borrowed from what many consider to be a more simple golf franchise, Tiger Woods 06 is still a solid game. Where rivals fails, the more realistic PGA Tour mode is still fun, as is skills 18, a set of target-based minigames.

In many respects, NCAA Football 2004 is deeper than its NFL counterparts. In fact, it's the best football game currently available for the GameCube. However, if you own multiple consoles, the PlayStation 2 version boasts inferior visuals but rather impressive online play, and the Xbox version has noticeably better graphics.

Gem Fighter for giggles, Alpha for nostalgia, Alpha 2 to see how a few critical tweaks can re-unite divided fans, and finally Alpha 3 for the whole caboodle and sheer pleasure of 2D fighting perfection.

It's a worthy title and Hitman 2: Silent Assasin places slightly above the rest of the pack.

An incredibly attractive game with a vast world to explore and countless hours of entertainment in store for those willing to make the investment. But we warn you: those who venture to Vana'diel may not be coming back.

One of the more interesting and entertaining strategy titles to come along in quite some time.

It’s a WWII shooter that will teach you about what your grandpappy went through with the same gritty verve as "Band of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan." This is the kind of game that proves war is truly hell.

The sole fact that Star Fox Command is entirely about dogfighting is enough to make fans of the series rejoice. The action is intense; single-player is packed with replay; and the controls will quickly grow on you like a tick on a dog.

Maybe material that still feels as fresh, fun and challenging as Gitaroo Man Lives! still deserves an encore.

A well-crafted game that's strictly for those who get off on blood, nastiness, and the darker side of the psyche. You know who you are.

Immediate enough to attract casual hockey fans, or even those who don't care for or know anything about the sport. It also provides a deep level of simulation and customization for those who know and love their hockey.

Of all the enhancements made in NBA Street V3, it would be remiss of us not to mention the visuals, which have moved away from exaggerated, cartoon-like players to a grittier, realistic look that better suits the game's urban theme.

It does drag on in a few spots, and its sci-fi bent may betray the original premise, but it brings gamers a deep, compelling story told in a clever way -- both in terms of narrative and gameplay execution.

Pirates of the Burning Sea is a very, very deep game. There’s PvP for those who want it; trading, crafting, and a detailed economy for the would-be barons of the sea; and the kind of strategic and dynamic combat that will appeal to gamers who just can’t get into the typically boring MMO function key combat system.

Final Fantasy III is the gaming equivalent of comfort food. It tells a tale of crystals and chocobo we've heard a dozen times before, it delivers old school challenge and does its job with the kind of confidence that comes with 20 years of experience.

While the graphics aren't especially mind-blowing, they complement the game's overall feel and make the unbelievable story that much more appealing.

Sure, it’s more burger and fries than filet mignon. But it’s a really good burger and fries.

Though it’s disappointing the presentation has taken a backseat in the development phase, Madden edges out "NFL 2K5" because, ultimately, it's the gameplay that matters after you've owned a football game for more than a couple weeks.

It’s disappointing that the multiplayer doesn’t take advantage of the opportunities established by the rest of the game’s design, but the four-player co-op is a very welcomed addition.

As an action adventure held up against its contemporaries, its gameplay variety, interesting premise, and amazing graphics and sound make it a winner, identity crisis or not.

Awesome action, intense atmosphere, fantastic audio work, gorgeous graphics, and plenty of blood and gore make this a worthy gun fix for gamers who still have the original game installed.

Smart, different, and engaging, it gives action gamers something new to test their mettle with, both on and off-line.

It's hard to describe just how much better LEGO Star Wars is than it should be. All the pieces just fit together perfectly. It's cute yet cunning, easy but addictive, and simultaneously light-hearted and intense.

Strengthening the improvements to gameplay is the addition of sliders to help customize the action, from the computer's shot block ability to foul frequency, game speed, and more.

The excessive amount of painful level grinding required to get anywhere in this game will bore most gamers to tears.

FIFA 09 is the culmination of lots of great features, like robust online support, stat tracking, and the excellent Be A Pro mode, that have been marinating for quite a while. This is the first time they’ve all come together to form a very tasty mix of soccer action.

The slow pace and broad complexity make it a game for only those who like to swim on the deeper side of the strategy game pool, but if you aren’t afraid to dive in this game is not to be missed.

The game is solid, if a bit short on content, but it’s more fun than it’s ever been.

Its sense of speed, tight controls, and terribly addictive career mode will appeal to just about anyone.

Resident Evil 4 remains one of the best horror games around, and while there’s no new content here, the budget price makes the Wii Edition a scary ride worth taking again.

MLB 2006 places such a huge emphasis on the cat-and-mouse battle between pitcher and batter that it will delight those looking for the subtle strategies in each at-bat and will likely annoy those who just want to hack away.

When Valkyria Chronicles is on its game, there’s nothing else like it on the market.

A pleasant surprise. It has deep and varied gameplay, yet manages to keep things extremely focused. It’s too early to tell how well the gaming community will take to these new-fangled ideas, but we’re sure glad someone had the guts and smarts to put them in a game.

A magnificent game.

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.

It’s a very polished, playable soccer game. The play by play is solid, the AI is challenging, and there are lots of options which allow you to tweak the experience to your liking.

If you’re interested in the authentic Animal Crossing experience, you can pick up the original for about twelve dollars now. If you don’t care about being an uber-Animal Crossing nerd, you will find a tremendous amount of enjoyment in this one as well.

The game makes no attempt to advance the gameplay or design of the series—it’s simply a smaller version of the original "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City."

New Super Mario Bros 2. doesn't do anything to innovate on the classic sidescrolling platformer, but the core gameplay is still strong enough to make navigating the wonderful levels worth your time.

In short, this is "The Sims" game for people who don't necessarily like "The Sims," but it's also one that will appeal to fans of the series.

Is it derivative? Yes. Is that a bad thing? No. Have I spent the last week of my life beating this game 6 times over and STILL going back for more? Um, what I do in my spare time is between my consoles and me.

Typifies the phrase "easy to learn, hard to master."

It's definitely action-packed, especially when playing with friends. It's just a damn-shame that Chris Taylor and his cronies at Gas Powered Games didn't get with the times and mix in a proper action-focused control scheme.

With so much personality and gameplay depth, however, no true tactical RPG fan will be able to resist braving this phantom.

The old school gameplay holds up nicely. Thanks to the incredibly sharp high definition treatment, the primitive animation style manages to still impress.

An addictive and enjoyable warfare simulation. While not entirely groundbreaking, Command & Conquer: Generals is one excellent game.

This is the first time since the original that the series has been so accessible. With the full 3D engine and freedom of movement, Myst V is more fun and fast-paced than you can reasonably expect an adventure game to be, and is just as visually stunning as its predecessors.

Perhaps the best thing about MLB Slugfest 20-03 is how well all the different elements come together to create a game that is both recognizably baseball and something you've never played before. The "extreme" additions work exceedingly well in the baseball setting.

While the gameplay is still overly derivative of games like "Colony Wars" and "Wing Commander," and doesn't quite capture the "Star Wars" feel in the same way the "Rogue Squadron" games do, it's a massive step in the right direction.

The thrill of careening around turns surrounded by dozens of competitors? Check. A great simulation of the long road to victory? Check. Spectacularly destructive wipeouts? Check, just no fire.

It’s cheap, fun, and nostalgic, without being shoddy. Excellent action, superb dual stick controls, and plenty of fun for one or two players, this is one of the best traditional 2D shooters around.

The game is more than the sum of its parts, offering a surprising amount of flexibility in how you accomplish your objectives, even if those objectives don’t change much from level to level, in a series of memorable environments.

Despite being on its fourth release, Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus still feels like a brand new game, one that is both fun to play and difficult to master. The Hero Mode may alarm purists, but there's no denying that it creates a wider audience.

Battlefield: Bad Company is the most console-feeling Battlefield ever produced.

A compellingly good MMO at an amazingly attractive price.

All these modes, combined with the incredibly entertaining gameplay and four-player support, add up to a sports game with plenty of play life.

Vessel brings art, music, and some great puzzles to the table. Though messy and not always perfect, anyone who loves playing around with water will want to get their hands dirty with this title.

GT3's soundtrack is a mixed bag. Some of it is boring-yet-harmless original music that is surprisingly jazzy. The list of licensed songs is the real disappointment.

The play is definitely aiming to please gamers from the old school, but Hell Yeah! offers a fun ride regardless of how many Mega Men you've conquered.

The simplistic gameplay of the series is not lost but refined to create a challenge that is both undeniably fun and not entirely impossible.

A captivating strategy game with oodles of character.

It's the breakneck pace afforded by Tommy's spirit world resurrections and the dizzying effects of promiscuous gravitational pull that makes Prey such a fresh gaming experience.

It has enough useful, new features to make it a worthy addition to the family, including the tremendous inclusion of Internet play and a fully fleshed-out career mode.

Throughout the entire campaign, you can't help but feel that this is a comic book come to life.

Creepy though she might be, it’s fun to school your friends with a 10-year-old in a swimsuit.

The game looks and sounds fantastic, and offers an impressive level of control and combat refinement that fans have come to expect from the series.

Thankfully, the game manages to be worth more than the sum of its parts. The controls are the best they've ever been, and combat is actually tolerable this time. That said, you're still better off avoiding fights whenever possible, especially during the few annoying sections that continually respawn creatures.

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.

While TV Party doesn’t have the most amazing or original selection of mini-games, the inherent charm of the Rabbids make it unique and hilarious.

An amazing trick system only bolsters the game's personality. You can literally land three or four maneuvers before touching down, given enough momentum.

Makes for surreal fun with a strangely addictive quality, and, if anything, it has seemingly endless potential. Like the stand-alone versions of the game, The Sims Online is what you make of it.

Unlike so many tossed-off gunners, it makes the most of the console and will tax most players in equal measure.

The game creates a distinctive, unflattering view of criminal life in the 40's, and the huge virtual city the Godfather offers is rife with missions and opportunities.

Attack veterans likely already have it -- newer puzzle fans should give it a look for another addictive twist on moving stacks of blocks around.