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.

The story doesn’t make much sense, and there are many truisms at work here, but the gameplay and presentation are phenomenal, and both the single and multiplayer aspects of the game are impressive.

It’s a decidedly different take on a massively popular franchise, but it’s one that ends up achieving what so many console RTSes have failed to by stripping away cumbersome control schemes and giving console players (and in this case Halo players) something that feels like it was made with them in mind.

The latest version of EA's yearly hit isn't the quantum leap ahead of last year's, but it's improved enough to keep it at the top, drinking from the virtual Cup.

There's more than enough meat to the single-player component in Dark Crusade to justify a purchase.

Its launch was technically sound, its production values are top-notch, and its focus on narrative is refreshing.

The three interwoven role-play threads in Persona 3 FES are so deftly sewn that it's easy to tune out the rest of the noise.

Everything that made SOCOM one of the PS2’s few standout online multiplayer games has been wrapped in a streamlined package for PSP.

You'll still find AI that makes terrible decisions, or find yourself waiting forever while the game ponders through the turns for the other civilizations. But the addition of several new scenarios and tons of new units can help you overlook that fact until Civilization VI inevitably comes out.

The career mode needs the same polish found in EA's other sports franchises, boxers would benefit from additional moves (like clinching) or individual ratings for specific punches, and some notable roster omissions might disappoint ardent fans (Holmes, Hagler, De La Hoya, Foreman, and others are MIA).

While the game's difficulty will vary depending on each gamer's proficiency, the game will appeal to both action and arcade fans alike.

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.

ESPN is incorporated seamlessly into the game, and it mostly works well, with solid pre-game coverage, a clean interface, and some slick graphic overlays in between gameplay.

Another solid DS game starring the little blue hedgehog, and will likely count as one of the only reasons series fans won’t write off Sonic and his friends anytime soon.

All the action in the game takes place in and around a single mansion. It may be a richly textured mansion with little visual surprises in every nook and cranny, but it's still just one house and can sometimes feel a little claustrophobic.

No matter the party size, the controls are fluidly responsive, which makes using tackles irresistible.

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.

The omission of a co-op mode and the lack of longevity hurt Gunstar Super Heroes a bit, but overall it's still a fantastic game that deserves a spot in anyone's Game Boy Advance library.

For Mortal Kombat fans, this is easily the best installment since "Mortal Kombat II."

X3: Reunion is a game that gamers will absolutely lose themselves in for months and even years without running out of things to do.

With a fresh take on combat that forgoes a targeting system in favor of a simple crosshair, the game shines in both the visual and gameplay department.

A lot of game even if most of it is just potential.

Technically underwhelming yet artistically stunning, what Shadow of the Colossus manages to achieve is remarkable. Not only is it an engrossing, very playable game, it delivers a thunderous emotional punch with only a handful of characters.

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.

Far from a frivolous extra, Open for Business delivers as much fresh gameplay as many “complete” games.

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

Like the annual appearances of Madden NFL and Tony Hawk games, we might have to complain about Nippon Ichi's strategy/RPG predictability if we weren't so busy immersed in the latest version.

A little unmanageable when large opposing forces enter toe-to-toe melee combat. The front line becomes a clanging, tangled, dying mass of soldiers, and no player micromanagement is going to save them.

From the first tutorial moments to its satisfying special collector's reward, The Simpsons: Hit & Run drips with humor and excellent voice-acting by the original cast members. The missions can get a bit repetitive, but the car-and-driver gameplay is the best seen in television-inspired games.

A solid, good-looking, and fairly robust little stealth action game that sticks to the mission plan of its bigger console co-operative.

While it's lacking in the qualities necessary to convert the haters, it's nonetheless a game that will please the faithful.

While it doesn't have the depth or complexity of the PC version, The Sims 2 brings a unique and engaging game experience to the Xbox.

Considering this game spun off from a series that rewards diligent accuracy, the studio should be applauded for delivering a title that encourages strategy and a mild form of improvisation while still being a worthy Rock Band game.

An innovative and engaging game, provided you can get over the steep learning curve.

Places its emphasis on subtle refinements over sweeping changes, which is what tends to happen when the gameplay is seasoned enough to already be considered a class act.

On the whole, any Minecraft is better than no Minecraft, and the 360 version is a full, satisfying game, when not judged against the PC version -- even in slightly-gimped form, Minecraft is better than most games on earth.

College Hoops 2K7 is a big improvement over last year, though it's still overshadowed by "NBA 2K7."

The game is both visually interesting and colorful, running at a consistent 60 frames per second, and the quality of animation looks like something you'd see on a Saturday morning cartoon.

As a multiplayer game, Bomberman is more than worth its price tag. However, as a single-player game, this one comes dangerously close to being a bomb.

Like any new pet, sometimes it will drive you crazy when it pees on the floor, but the moment it does something adorable and curls up on the end of the bed you will love it all over again.

An incredibly fun game born of a fascinating concept that follows through on its potential in almost every way. If you’re a fan of hip-hop, or of solid grapplers with a huge does of the old ultra-violence, you’ll find plenty here to keep you bouncing in your seat.

About as close to a retail-caliber release as the downloadable space has seen yet. It's super polished, the combat is slick and exciting, and the presentation is top notch.

Unfortunately, aside from slight interludes and fantastic-looking, if generally pointless, prerendered end movies, any actual meaningful bits of plot are almost nonexistent for most of the characters...[yet] one of the greatest fighting games ever made.

Where its online options are concerned, Ghost Recon is simply one of the best reasons to get Xbox Live.

A real treat... However, the occasional way-too-difficult mission leads to some frustrating repetition, and behaving while driving around so as not to blow the last leg of a driving mission can become slightly tedious.

The new challenge mode and sub-divisions further enhance the "Command & Conquer"-style of gameplay, and the increased features, tweaks, and improvements make it an essential purchase for fans of the series.

The levels are fun, the gameplay is solid, and the puzzles and bosses require more than a bit of brain matter to figure out, resulting in a nice sense of accomplishment every time you reach a new milestone in Raz's adventure.

Amped isn't the most fun-filled snowboarding game you can buy, but it's easily the deepest and most satisfying.

It’s still the genre you know and love, but few games have this level of polish and originality.

Though the core game is obscenely short by modern standards, Capcom packed this title with a lot of extra content. And unlike so many retro-revamps, everything here is well worth your time.

While it does not have the seemingly endless replay value of the original, the tighter gameplay works well for a more straightforward gaming experience.

You're not paying for a full game when you purchase this title, and for $15 you're getting a lot of bang (literally) for your buck. The online matches are still just as addictive, and the new modes are very welcome and hopefully a precursor of more to come.

Taken together, the new touches are nice, but the graphics are one area where SOCOM II can't yet compete with its PC cousins.

The gameplay is so enjoyable, however, that it should almost be required to at least try - especially the multiplayer mode.

Without a doubt, Donkey Konga is a ton of fun. It's offbeat, easy to play, and entertaining for one or four players. Kids will love the game, but don't let that put off older gamers, as the simple gameplay is fun for any age.

The onscreen heads-up display is a miracle of design, everything is easy to read, and a foldout cardboard keyboard layout makes sure everything is easy to do. Still, the game is extremely challenging, perhaps too difficult too fast.

For what it is – a colorful, action-packed dungeon hack – it’s as much of a credit to the Shining Force name as any 15-year-old strategy game.

The Wii version is graphically inferior to the 360 and PS3; Ron and Hermione have a nasty way of blocking your path in tight quarters; and there are the aforementioned, seemingly endless fetch-quests. Even with all that, this is easily the best Harry Potter game to date, and it’s simply one of the most entertaining movie tie-ins on the market.

Engaging, visually stunning, and a whole lot of fun to play.

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.

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

[It] will likely prove as influential as all it's inspirations.

Once again the game to beat, though its controls will be a sticking point for the pick-up-and-play crowd.

But at the end of the day, it’s that winning Winning Eleven feel that makes this one as addictive as ever: expectant WE9 owners should anticipate plenty of sore thumbs and “disappointed” spouses in their near future.

Technical issues aside, Far Cry 2 is an epic (and epic-ly long) take on the first-person shooter. The setting, open word, and side quests make it feel more like a more action-oriented "Grand Theft Auto," or a less ridiculous "Just Cause," than the original. Which, admittedly, will annoy fans of the original (present company included).

Fast, fun, and incredibly playable, it’s an ideal portable game. It looks sharp, and the inclusion of free Internet play is just what the system needs.

Although the controls feel slightly unwieldy and unresponsive at times, SSX Blur is still generally a lot of fun. The open mountain, tons of events and unlockable goodies, and motion sensitive controls go a long way to revitalizing the snowboarding genre.

Clearly, the 24/7 mode is the most impressive element, and it could've easily been its own release. All combined, it adds up to a very good game, due largely to the breakout star.

If you have the choice, it holds many advantages over "Donkey Konga." The graphics and song list are superior. However, drumming requires a bit more coordination than playing the bongos.

The Williams Collection is a top-tier set of pinball tables that fans should not pass up.

If you can ignore the acting or enjoy it for camp, the rest of Gothic II is an incredible experience.

The game may be stylized, but it looks and plays spectacularly in high-definition.

With great graphics, challenging gameplay, and plenty of ways to play, Codename: Panzers, Phase Two lives up to expectations.

Weird, wacky, and engaging, the game can go head to head with any of Square’s best—as long as you have a healthy sense of humor.

Hopefully DK’s second outing in his latest franchise will garner a bit more support this time around, because the big ape’s game definitely deserves it.

Console gamers or those new to the RTS genre would do well to check out EndWar. It is a fun, if simplistic game that has succeeded where many others have failed.

If you're not heartless, Nintendogs will be one of the most innovative, inimitable, and impressive games you've come across.

A relatively simple game with a silly name that manages to be fairly fun.

We love all the changes to the gameplay in Pikmin 2. It's deeper, less frustrating, and ultimately, more fun. We dig the cave-like dungeons that require intense strategy and we're ecstatic over the new Pikmin types. It's a solid, charming game from beginning to end.

It was hard to get excited about another version of Tetris, but with the new play modes, and the excellent multiplayer capabilities of the DS, Nintendo has indeed taught an old dog some new tricks.

My time with Tekken Tag Tournament 2 truly felt like an arcade without the frustration of losing my allowance in quarters.

A solid game that manages to be more than just a "GTA" clone. It was clearly rushed, however, and the numerous bugs and glitches drag it down to a great degree.

The solo adventure offers so much diversity that you will push yourself to keep going just to see the new areas and confront the hilarious bosses. Now, if only the stingy camera received as much care as the new graphics.

Despite all the things Jango can do, control is streamlined and intuitive... A rock-solid action title that should keep Fett fans very happy.

For a game that didn't need to do much to succeed, Madden NFL 13 went above and beyond to innovate the already-strong core gameplay.

Factor in the ability to play the Summer Leagues and NBDL, and the game's shortcomings seem minimal.

By far the best of the "Yu-Gi-Oh" games to make it to American shores. Fans of the card game will most likely love it.

The renowned charm of Disney's characters, the stylistic panache of "Final Fantasy" folk, and a well-designed gameplay makes up for Kingdom Hearts' relatively few shortcomings.

It's not far out to score Big Brain Academy slightly higher than its predecessor, mostly because the game contains none of the maddening verbal and writing input issues.

Just flat-out fun. It's not the most complex offering, but there's something to be said for a title that doesn't overreach and instead focuses on tight gameplay and enticing features.

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.

The type of game that makes you want to dust off that green felt cloak and curl up with a sack of dice.

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.

It's dark, tense, and occasionally scary. The levels also have an inordinate number of secret hiding places that spit out demons when you walk over some invisible trigger. It's a cheap design tactic that completely pulls you out of the realistic setting.

If you’re a Ninja Gaiden fan, or even just someone who loves action games, don’t let the camera woes scare you off. This is still one of the most expertly designed combat systems around, and gamers looking for a true challenge in this era of games designed to be beaten by anyone with enough time on their hands will appreciate Ninja Gaiden II for what it is – One of the last games around that values skill over perseverance.

The first Age of Empires on the DS was a near miss. A good game sunk by a flawed visual interface. The developers of Mythologies clearly did their homework. This is a solid strategy game with the visual chops to back up a deep, playable design.

With some weapons, like the sniper rifle, you can't move at all if it's equipped. This is all the more frustrating after playing games like "Splinter Cell" where it's pulled off with aplomb.

While there isn’t enough in the Wii version to warrant a buy if you’ve played the game before, Blackhand Edition provides a much needed M-rated action game for the system.