An amusing and often times funny diversion with a lot of cool ideas, but ultimately falls flat as a game. It’s a pretty bold experiment coming from the increasingly-staid House that Sonic built, but one that leaves us feeling passionless.

The Belkin War lives up to the entertainment legacy of the Ace Combat series by subtracting much of what didn't work and adding valuable new elements.

The game looks and feels dated. The colors are drab, and the world lacks character. Nothing here looks state of the art, yet the system requirements are quite high.

Children of the Nile isn’t an excellent game merely because it’s innovative. It’s an excellent game because those innovations make for a more compelling, and generally less frustrating experience for the player.

Elebits is fun, but manages to feel more like a technical demonstration than a complete game.

Those hoping for a strong single-player campaign should consider Frontlines a rental at best, as the entire experience is over within six hours. Yet if your Xbox Live itch hasn't been scratched by either Call of Duty 4 or Halo 3, consider moving Frontlines to the top of your soldier's shopping list.

Dark Age is easily one of the best massively multiplayer online RPGs available today, and Trials of Atlantis is a solid addition to the experience.

The Euro-flavored plot and grounded situations help set it apart, and though the gameplay hasn't been watered-down in order to appeal to the casual gamer, it's still accessible enough to make it a worthwhile entry point for those less familiar with the genre.

Mercury demands a lot, and doesn’t offer many ways for deficient players to build their skills for later levels.

The lack of variety in the levels was a major factor. But even more so was the constant loading and unnatural, abrupt transitions.

There's a good deal of trial and error involved with The Lost Vikings, an aspect of the game that may seem tedious to some people. But there is a suitably addictive challenge awaiting gamers the first time through.

While the new camera is a big step forward, in almost every other visual aspect, ASB '05 is behind the times.

The simplicity of Culdcept hides an incredibly deep system, but one that almost everyone will grasp immediately.

They might want to cut down on the load times, too. Or at least come up with a few more pretty pictures to admire while we wait.

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.

Though it has numerous pros, courts, and options - including a player creation section that would make World Of Warcraft jealous - and looks as good as Wimbledon on NBC, it is ultimately undone by the most obvious of gaming mistakes: bad controls.

An enjoyable, mindless, action game and generally plays well on the 360. But the performance issues are going to rob this one of a point. Especially when we know this console should be able to handle a game like this without breaking a sweat.

Should be a fun diversion for fans of the genre, though it pales in comparison to the best handheld platformers on the market.

The biggest draw in DarkWatch is the setting. It's just different enough to remain interesting the whole way through.

It takes a little effort, maybe, but you can make a game for kids that doesn’t bore a more experienced player.

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

While there’s a lot of action here, traditional real-time strategy gamers might be thrown off by its complexity.

This is clearly a port in the wrong direction. The PSP visuals that looked great on the small screen now look terrible, and visual glitches and shortcomings flood the screen.

Could've been a great game, but focuses more on being funny and irreverent than being a solid action/RPG and ends up being pretty average.

It may seem like a laidback, go-as-you-wish experience, but with the constant time limits imposed on the player it fails as both a relaxing and fully rewarding game.

The lame dialog and acting shatters any real delusions of drama, as do the irritating glitches and the surprise ending, reminding you that this is just a game after all.

The boss fights are supremely challenging and satisfying, and you’ll earn totally bitchin’ sets of armor as you accumulate bloody victories. There’s even a very enjoyable chariot race section.

Your appreciation of Tak 2 largely depends on the number of 3D platform games you've seen over the years. The more you've experienced, the less impressive Tak 2 is to play, which means younger audiences will love it.