Army of Two is a dream come true for co-op enthusiasts. It doesn’t hit every note perfectly, but the campaign and team-based multiplayer modes are the perfect reasons to pester your old "Gears of War" buddy into picking it up.

The wide selection of music ensures that it will have something for just about anyone, and the gameplay is challenging and incredibly addictive.

This package should make any arcade lover happy.

The one down side is that the shooting still feels pretty basic. The game is a little shorter than you might expect, but goes well over 10 hours and it wraps up the series' story nicely with a pretty crazy twist.

In other words, if you're not the gotta catch 'em all type, this expansion pack feels like it actually expands an already great game.

NBA Live 06's seemingly small additions have improved the on-court action immeasurably, making it one of the best entries in the series to date.

Fortunately the on-screen action moves at a blistering pace, with colorful visuals, impressive animations, and eye-popping embellishments such as motion trails, super jumps, bats bursting into fire after multiple hits, and pitches that defy physics. The depth of features isn’t quite up to the competition’s, but in terms of action and excitement, MLB SlugFest: Loaded covers all the bases.

NFL 2K5 has leveled the field of play significantly with its wallet-friendly price and killer presentation.

As impressive as a racer like "PGR3" can be, the learning curve and time investment aren't for everyone. OutRun 2 is just as entertaining, and almost as challenging, no matter what sort of digital driver you happen to be.

While the "car" portion of TrackMania: Sunrise is indeed shallow, the focus on wild, custom race tracks and unique modes of play really puts this game in a class by itself.

A positive step forward for an already good series.

Factor in some respectable online gameplay, and NCAA March Madness 06 is a much more solid game than what we played last year. For once the control additions make sense and deepen the game.

Test Drive Unlimited is a triumph in packaging. It wraps a familiar suite of racing objectives in a appealing shared space and gives players the tools to socialize in this enormous setting.

Exquisite graphics and sublime gameplay...It's just a shame that not all the voice work is as good as it could have been. It's also too bad that the FF minigames have once again taken away any hope of fully appreciating the game's story.

But what Alien Invasion does so well is offer existing players a solid reason to keep playing. Those of you who left AO a while ago might want to pop back in to see what the fuss is about.

The sheer escapism Fire Emblem offers is nearly impossible to downplay, but it's difficult not to be judgmental of the game's four-years-ago presentation.

Even without a deep Dynasty mode (we really expect it next year) this is easily the best basketball available on a handheld.

AI is greatly improved.

If you have the determination to master the many nuances of motorcycle racing, you'll find that MotoGP3 delivers an exceptionally exhilarating ride. It's a game for enthusiasts, but a great game nonetheless.

Harmonix's own "Guitar Hero" is still tops--mainly due to its cool factor--but if you need to entertain a rowdy group at your next gathering, nothing says hours of good times like Karaoke Revolution Party.

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.

Despite a few quirks here and there (you can bet into the negative chips during poker, you can’t split a hand in blackjack), Clubhouse Games is a worthwhile purchase no matter what sort of gamer you may be. This is the stuff the DS excels at.

Compared to the tight, challenging "Rainbow Six 3," which is also available on the PS2, there’s really nothing Jungle Storm can offer that you haven’t played before. At this point, the Ghost Recon series is definitely the weakest link in the Clancy chain.

No amount of emo nonsense could ruin a game this good. Now drained of a substantial part of its charm, this outstanding strategy sim feels more like every other self-serious video game out there. That's a minor tragedy.

Thanks to next-gen graphical flair, elegant controls, and a sparkling sheen of packaging polish, Rockstar Presents Table Tennis manages a near miracle.

A great flight sim that won't bog you down with complex controls.

It's insanely gorgeous... Beautiful graphics, fantastically designed maps, and slight changes in gameplay.

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.

Despite the difficult control scheme, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is a gripping title. There’s a lot to do both online and off with this handheld game. And it handles both single and multiplayer gaming masterfully.

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.

It may not be a full showcase of what your new handheld can do, but Zipper did a commendable job of creating a bite-sized modern warfare scenario for you to play with. Not must-own material for everyone, but definitely worth the time if you've been waiting for a Vita game with a strong focus on virtual military combat.

A substantial leap was made in multiplayer support. The classic Free For All and Duel matches are back, but the new star of the online show is the objective-based Siege mode, which pits Rebel and Imperial forces against each other in re-creations of several classic "Star Wars" battles.

Although exploration is the core of the game—and like every game in this series, the best part—combat happens frequently and will likely be the main cause of frustration. Still, if you can stick it out through the hard bits, Prince of Persia Classic is definitely a worthwhile download. It’s a welcome walk down memory lane—when it’s not causing shouts of pain and anguish.

LEGO fans will enjoy it, DC fans will love it, and fans of both…well, you probably already have it. With just the right balance of new ideas and familiar gaming comfort food, LEGO Batman 2 should please all but the most curmudgeonly of gamers.

Despite the repetition that plagues the game’s progression, the satisfying combat and epic army battles help it stand out. Fans of exploration, Viking myths, and limbs separating from torsos will find much to love here.

The quick, aggressive, and brutal matches of Tekken might not be everyone’s ideal fight, but the game does have depth and a decent sense of balance, not to mention a lot of great-looking moves and great character variety.

Although the game has a story, plot has never been the strong point of any platformer. In the case of "Klonoa" it's more saccharine than usual and indulges in the same plodding mumbo-jumbo found in console RPGs.

The new elements all mesh perfectly to provide a more well-rounded farming RPG experience, and, as odd as that sounds to non-fans, this is an excellent DS adventure.

A truly refreshing change of pace. It takes a lot of the waiting out of RTS games, but does so without sacrificing sound tactical decision-making.

While the kiddy graphics and styling might turn off some players to Gunpey DS, it would be a mistake to dismiss the game based on looks alone.

Makes destroying humans fun with an original setting, enjoyable alien arsenal, and cleverly designed missions. Its sense of humor may falter once in a while, and content freaks will definitely find the game on the short side.

With all these fantastic flight features, there's one glaring omission that casts a pall on Ace Combat 5. Put simply, no multiplayer.

Far from a perfect game, MadWorld is perhaps the answer to gamers’ pleas for a hardcore title to arrive on the Wii. You’ll be able to clean up the city in a little under seven hours without breaking a sweat – but it’s seven hours of pure bloody mayhem that you won’t find in most twenty-hour games.

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are the best-looking games in the series, but they don't hold a candle to technical marvels such as "Golden Sun." The graphics are hardly bad, though. They look clean and colorful.

A complete package that is both a solid adventure and a promising beginning for this Bandai series.

Diner Dash is addictive enough that you’ll still want to bash through those crazy tough levels. When you’re willing to stick with a game through its flaws, that’s usually a pretty good sign.

Like a truly interactive horror movie, The Thing unfolds at a suspenseful pace...One of the most unique and compelling story-driven games to hit console systems in some time.

The "extreme" additions work exceedingly well in the baseball setting. What could have been a shoddy title riding on a gimmick turned out to be one of the better arcade baseball games in recent memory.

There's no question that Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree will be divisive among gamers. The hardcore will balk at its lightweight mini-games and family-friendly vibe.

The inclusion of an intuitive, open character building system, commendable AI, and great multiplayer options make this a fine choice for fans of the original game, and those looking for a good action-heavy role-playing experience.

While there are problems--too cutscene-heavy, some lame objectives, and the fact that there are infinitely more zombies than little green men--Area 51 is more than enough to make a believer out of you.

The single player, as compelling as it is, isn't a very good reason to buy this game. Even four-player split screen isn't a good-enough reason. But for multiplayer on your Xbox, Unreal Championship can't be beat.

The game looks and sounds fantastic, but plays even better. There’s so much to do in Paradise City that you’ll spend hours exploring every nook. Even after the single player game dulls down, the multiplayer should provide even more fun.

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.

Sonic Rush is the best hedgehog game since the beloved Sonic CD, and platforming fans will have to be taking some serious downers to not get a rush from what Sonic has to offer on the DS.

Checkpoints are far too infrequent, compelling the player break immersion and save their progress every hundred steps. And the game's level relies too frequently on cliches.

The races are challenging and exciting, plus the management features give the game a considerable amount of depth. The game goes beyond its high concept and delivers a rather enjoyable hybrid of arcade and simulation-styled gameplay.

The visuals in Guilty Gear X2 are Disney quality, and the game's speed offline never wavers or chokes on the action. The backdrops for fighting have that old school, colorful quality, and it's clear that this game came out long after the "SFII" craze.

NBA Ballers gets better as you master it. Given the sheer amount of unlockable content, the replay value appears substantial.

Despite lacking some tweaks that could have made the most horror-jaded gamers wet themselves, Dead Space delivers scares, gore and a truly disturbing gem of a game.

It captures the essence of its predecessor's wackiness, scope, and addictive gameplay; yet it drops the ball as far as advancements and even takes a step back in the audio department.

But it would take a very hardcore Star Wars fan to actually plod on and replay the same levels again and again. As such, LSWII might be best rented.

All told, Sam & Max fans have plenty to celebrate with three top notch (albeit brief) episodes.

Its fundamental flaws and dearth of good music makes this also-ran even more pointless.

Based on features alone, NBA 2K6 is the slam-dunk choice for Xbox 360 basketball. The player graphics are beautiful, with or without an HDTV, and the controls have slightly improved since the game’s appearance on the original Xbox (players can now enter into a defensive crouch by tapping on the left trigger button).

The best version of the game so far...It's also the best starting point for anyone who still hasn't gotten into the DDR phenomenon.

If you have time to think, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Casual gamers can feel free to jump in and play for a few hours a week without worrying about getting their money’s worth, while more dedicated players can spend hours and hours earning abilities for their characters through quests and recognition for their guild through tournaments.

In short, if you like FEAR, you will love FEAR 2. It may be too scary for some and the wobble of your character walking might induce a slight bit of motion sickness, but it’s a well constructed horror/action title.

Quick, responsive controls do well to round out the positives here, but the time spent refining the countering-a-grapple system make Shut Your Mouth considerably more balanced and playable than some previous installments.

Online quibbles aside, NFL Street 2 easily bests its predecessor in terms of depth, visuals, and overall fun.

A damn good game of hockey, and one that shows tremendous promise for the next few years.

A solid story, sharp graphics, excellent audio, great gameplay, vehicles, super weapons, a variety of environments, and topnotch multiplayer action (not to mention the ability to blow up walls) all make this revolution something to shout about.

A top notch conversion of a great board game. A good match generally takes less than an hour and there’s no clean up after you’re done. Well worth 10 bucks.

Considering that some of the maps in the "Road to Rome" expansion were spectacular, it's hard to justify dropping $30 on another set of maps and some vehicles.

LEGO Indiana Jones may not be quite as engaging as LEGO Star Wars, but it’s still a lot of fun to play through. That’s doubly true with a friend. The quest isn’t particularly long, but there’s plenty of incentive for a second run-through (or a third …), and Indy fans will definitely have a blast re-living the original films -- LEGO-style.

The gameplay, levels, and sound definitely make up for the slight slowdown in graphics.

While Final Fantasy XI doesn't currently offer quite as much variety and depth as competing games --especially on the PC -- its superb graphics, sound, and dedicated community make it a match for the competition.

Not every new idea works, but it's refreshing to see a developer, especially one as conservative as Blizzard, branch out a little.

For pure dollar value -- 10 total games for $29.99 -- Mega Man Anniversary Collection is a great buy. That is, if you can make your peace with the atrocious button-swapping snafu.

For Potter fans of all ages, Chamber of Secrets is a must-have.

The first handful of hours with Echoes is truly a magical experience, but eventually you'll end up spending more time looking at the map trying to figure out where to go than actually playing the game.

While others have hinted at RPG and RTS crossover, or have tried and not quite succeeded, SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars delivers.

SNK has done a remarkable job of creating a new Metal Slug experience that feels nearly perfect on the small screen. Frenetic action, great graphics, and classic, refined gameplay are all highlights here.

This is far more than just a port; it's a comprehensive console-specific retooling. The thought of that may make some fans sick to their stomach, and yes, some of the more detailed options for taxation and civilization management have been automated to a greater or lesser degree, but there's still plenty of strategy here for even hardcore fans to appreciate.

You'll find everyone from inspired role-players to hardcore number crunchers, transplants from both WoW and LOTRO, in this game. How long they'll stay is anyone's guess, but it seems like Age of Conan has plenty of room to grow.

In terms of story and presentation, the tale of Asura's Wrath is one of the best of this console generation, but a scant six hours of gameplay and lengthy cutscenes holds it back from being perfect.

Though less challenging than "1503 AD", 1701 AD is a much more engrossing game.

Sure, a few of you may balk at this “sacrilegious” abbreviation of your favorite old school franchise, but you’ll be missing the point: this may just be how adventure gaming survives. Let’s hope so.

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.

ZombiU should also be recognized as one of those rare launch titles that doesn't have the classic earmarks of a launch title that's been rushed out the door.

While Vegas 2 shows definite improvements over it predecessor, one cannot help but feel as though the title could have used another couple of months to get that Caesar Palace showgirl shine instead of coming out like a Caesar Palace cocktail waitress.

Where most super-hero games are satisfied with mediocrity, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance aims high and blasts its target into smithereens. 'Nuff said!

Die-hard console gamers may or may not appreciate the offbeat gameplay style, but there's no denying it'll grow the franchise's reputation as one of the most unusual series currently available for any platform.

Lesser games in the extreme sports genre have a tendency to wade in a shallow pool of standard cliches, but Wakeboarding Unleashed keeps the focus squarely on the gameplay, where it should be.

There’s certainly room for improvement, but Transformers has a lot to offer any fan of interactive destruction.

While it’s basically just a more polished version of the first game with a few additions here and there, Skate 2 is easily the best skating game on the market. The city is massive, the trick system still feels like butter on wheels, there are endless challenges, events and places to discover, and the online features are plentiful.

This is a simple, laid-back game, but you'll be surprised at just how rewarding it is to create railroads and watch towns grow.