It's too bad that an underdeveloped social scene and tedious chores that require frustrating precision keep farm life from being more fun.

A solid entry in the world of motocross games, but it's not much of a step up from "Excitebike 64," a game the same developer finished four years ago.

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.

Even though the game is well thought out and relatively well executed, it's not the most exciting subject matter.

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.

When the speed stops, the fun stops. Otherwise, Sonic Advance 3 moves fast, looks and sounds good (Sonic fans will certainly groove to a remixed tune or two), and has a few multiplayer options to boot.

It's a different style of game than previous versions, one that dumps some of the innovations from earlier titles in favor of crowd-pleasing simplicity.

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.

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.

Gamers looking for a vast, expansive trick system like the one in the "Tony Hawk" games might find their wings clipped in Downhill Domination, but the responsive physics and no-rules mayhem work surprisingly well. It's fast -- perhaps a little too fast.

Far better than the Wii iteration, this is an engaging and good looking action game with classic gameplay and innovative controls. For Spidey fans on the go, it’s good stuff.

The animated sequences are less than stellar, the plot is trite, and the game feels like it was pared down at the last minute. Despite all those flaws, the running-based gameplay makes you want to forgive everything else. No other game is quite as exhilarating and uniquely exciting, and it’s this part of the game you’ll remember most.

Whether it’s because we all expect more from our games now, or whether it’s because there’s just no way Blue Dragon could possibly live up to the hype it received due to its famous designers, the game just isn’t that impressive. Fun, but nothing special.

An invaluable addition to an already great game. The driving missions are a fun and sometimes useful diversion. But the real winner here is how you can more easily deal with their traffic problems.

May not be the perfect ninja sim, but it's a ton of fun, and that's far more important than some minor flaws.

At $20 less than most PSP games, there isn't a better value on the platform. Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X does the series proud.

Mario Strikers Charged still has a ways to go before being considered an arcade-sports champion.

Not since "Ullamalitzli," the ancient Aztec game where the losers were beheaded has violent sports been so much fun.

It's not great or inspired and almost everything in the game has been done many times before, but the action is engaging, the level design is impressive, and the weapons and aliens look good.

You'll adore Alien Hominid. An attractive price, original concept, and splendid execution outshine issues such as its short-lived thrills and shallow premise.

If you can get past the long loading times and come to grips with the busted controls, Tiger Woods offers so much.

The new weapons are nice, although it lacks any real innovation when it comes to level design.

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.

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

Nothing new, but it's fluid and fun, with enough freedom and detail to satisfy newcomers and pros alike.

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

If you enjoy "Final Fantasy" and its ilk, Lost Odyssey will appeal. It’s not innovative and doesn’t take any chances, but there’s a lot of classic turn-based adventure just waiting for you in four long disks.

One of the freshest titles in recent memory in both concept and execution.

Ironically, while it has plenty of levels and action, the story is just too darn weird.

One of the first real surprises of the year. Fun and childish, yet bizarrely addictive, the mix of solid and interesting gameplay, crazy characters, and some great dungeons make this a great adventure for gamers of all ages.

If you want a game with rewarding, blood gushing headshots, the HOTD arcade feeling at home and a Wii game that doesn’t try to be cute or even remotely family friendly, this is a good one to pick up.

For all its lack of innovation, there's an involving, if convoluted story here, and some commendably spooky moments.

WWE '13 has all the potential to be great. Varied game modes, a slew of classic wrestlers to choose from and an unheard of commitment to historical accuracy all form the foundation for what should be an excellent wrestling game. Unfortunately, the gameplay is so weak and the entire game suffers for it.

The game is sharp, and it's fun. Its main flaw is its timing. Amidst a crowded Xbox field, PS2 shooter lovers are going to appreciate this one.

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.

The adventure is a first-class effort all the way and well worth the asking price. The newest additions to the toolset are also top notch.

It's what's on the field that counts, and even with some AI hiccups, the gameplay predominantly delivers. This is a solid, fun ball game. If the same forward leaps are made for the next outing, it will be batting cleanup.

In spite of its problems, this remains the best boxing game on the market.

Robocalypse is easily one of the best portable strategy games out there. It’s fun, has a nice sense of humor, and the simplified control scheme works well overall. If you can find friends with the game, you can battle in four-player action fests.

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.

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.

Buildings are built noticeably faster now. Especially huge projects like the airport. Now there is a random damage element courtesy of the elements themselves, occasional storms will pass through and they can put a final nail in your faltering economy, or at least slow down a burgeoning one (this feature is optional).

Betting for cars adds a great deal of tension to the proceedings and its sense of speed is impressive. Questionable physics and a lack of track variety, however, keep it from attaining greatness.

AI is greatly improved.

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 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.

The story line is in-depth and the development of the characters is well thought out. But the flaws hold this title back from being a top contender in the RPG genre.

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.

If you can stomach the poor writing and the annoying camera, Crimson Sea has some visually rewarding intermissions and some decent battle situations to keep the action game fan happy.

It’s using the same technology, and there are no new gameplay elements to differentiate it from its predecessor in any clear way.

With "Winning Eleven" on the market you just expect more, and you get it. FIFA may have high-priced Premiereship licenses and a killer career mode, but at the end of the day, it’s just not as much fun as the competition.

The attractive visuals ride the line between dark and cartoony with expressive characters. It's all tied together with its unique combat and restart schemes, which will either inspire you or drive you mad.

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.

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.

It's true that it won't make you forget "GoldenEye 007", but it's the closest a Bond game has come to that level of quality in years.

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.

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

Stand-out art for a diverse cast of heroes, villains, and soldiers helps the game excel in the graphics category, and although complex, it's set up well enough so you won't get lost in numbers, menus, and statistics.

The sights, sounds, and feel of the game are so similar to the last two games that you’ll find the entire thing less scary. Enemies will feel less threatening, locations will remind you of past locations, and the whole thing will lose some of its edge.

Though it’s not the dream collection fans hoped for, it’s still nice to be re-acquainted with these venerable fighters.

NFL Blitz 2012 isn't going to re-invent the way you look at football, or, in fact, the way you look at Blitz. There's not a whole lot there, and it really doesn't make any sense that they took out the fun extracurricular violence, but, in the end, it's a game you'll play every now and again and smile while you're doing it.

It's just another WWII shooter in that sea of WWII shooters we're all drowning in. It's fun enough while it lasts but there's nothing here we haven't see many, many times before.

Unless you love Monkey Ball more than Orangutans love Tang, you can safely pass this one up. But if you haven’t played Monkey Ball before, you can’t go really wrong with Deluxe.

It fixes the main problem with the original ZX, throws in some other major improvements besides, and keeps everything that almost made ZX a classic to begin with.

In a genre consistently flooded with sequels and rehashes, Skullgirls is definitely a breath of fresh air. Reverge Labs has listened closely to fans of the game as well as the fighting game community, and has been noticeably meticulous of the development of this game.

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.

You could easily spend 40 hours or more if you wanted to explore every inch of the levels and do all the secondary quests in the game...a solid, if not spectacular, gaming experience.

If you're already wary of Japanese strategy RPGs, then be sure to stay even further away from Gladius. It's got as many menus, and its battles are slower and less rewarding. LucasArts clearly tried to make everything look and feel good, but Gladius is ultimately done in by the leaden gameplay.

The campaigns are too dry, too random, and the combat too long and thoughtful by half.

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.

Shaolin Monks' replay value could use a jump-start or two from Raiden's fingertips. Despite an arcade port of Mortal Kombat II and a two-player versus mode, there's simply not enough "kontent" to justify a purchase for most.

It's a different style of game than previous versions, one that dumps some of the innovations from earlier titles in favor of crowd-pleasing simplicity.

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.

The rest of the Grand Theft Auto series is dirt cheap now, and offers better gameplay in a far more massive world, with vastly superior graphics. So, unless you have absolutely maxed out on all things GTA, it’s unlikely that Liberty City Stories will be anything but a minor curiosity.

Though casual fans might initially find the level of control to be more complicated than the average tax code, the best part of NHL 2K7 and the entire NHL 2K series is its depth, from the robust franchise mode to its online play over Xbox Live, fun mini-games, and diverse assortment of bonus content.

The excellent battle system and mostly likeable characters somehow transcend the game’s drawn out plot and niggling technical issues. This is a nice apology for the disappointing "Tales of Legendia."

It's a different style of game than previous versions, one that dumps some of the innovations from earlier titles in favor of crowd-pleasing simplicity.

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

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.

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.

A great expansion pack to The Sims 2. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that it’s the best one out there. No, it doesn’t have the volume of changes and additions that some of the other ones have, but everything in Seasons fits so very well with The Sims 2 that it’s hard to imagine playing the game without it.

Succeeds where other fitness-oriented programs fail because you are literally an active participant in the program instead of mimicking steps or following commands.

Despite a solid concept behind it, NHL Hitz 2002 has neither the gameplay nor the presentation level to deliver.

A more robust career mode with sponsorships, cash prizes, and a tournament-style atmosphere with rivalries would be nice as well, but those in the mood for a challenging, fast-paced racer -- online or off -- won't be disappointed.

If handheld racing is your thing, this rally title should be near the top of your list.

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.

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

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.

You'll adore Alien Hominid. An attractive price, original concept, and splendid execution outshine issues such as its short-lived thrills and shallow premise.

Everything from the stylized presentation to the tiring yet satisfying controls to the hours of playtime added by hidden treasures and bonus challenges just screams, “Love me!” And despite being relatively short and the shaking can be exhausting, there isn’t much that fans of good old-fashioned Nintendo platforming won’t like here.

An excellent first start for a spin-off series, with a strong action element bolstered by a great sense of atmosphere that makes replaying campaigns on different difficulty levels a treat rather than a chore.

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 occasional high difficulty will alienate most players, though for those who can take the heat, Dropship is a great buy.

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.

Ditching the nauseating first-person camera altogether and instead focusing on delivering a playable behind-the-shoulder fielding cam would also be a good start. This one will be warming up in the bullpen until next year.

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.

All of the games included here are fun--some more than others--but none of them will hold your interest for very long.

Although there aren't any online features or a training mode to teach newcomers the characteristics of soccer, the variety of game modes is astounding, and the gameplay is enthralling.