The abysmal controls and resulting frustrations are unforgiveable.

There's a good bit of game here and some occasional flashes of brilliance, but it's sweeter than a chocolate and butterscotch sandwich and could have used a few more months in the incubator.

If ever a game deserved the description of “Xtreme” or some spelling variation thereof, it’s this one. Total Overdose takes every stale action game stereotype and cranks it up to 11, presenting a game that’s lame and self-parodying, but despite that still manages to be fun--fun enough for a rental, that is.

Watchmen: The End is Nigh offers a solid foundation with high production values and surprisingly good combat as the first of perhaps many episodes to come, but is it worth sacrificing your Jackson for a chance to slip into Rorschach’s trench coat? The answer is… up to you really.

Dungeon Siege lovers, however, might appreciate the accurate look and feel of Throne of Agony, but won’t appreciate how the core RPG elements like in depth character creation and party-based exploration have been discarded.

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

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.

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.

And this wouldn't be so bad, except for the draconian daily qualification requirements you face during the Olympic Games mode.

At best, Romancing SaGa is an eight-part RPG miniseries contained in one overflowing DVD. At worst, it's an unbalanced snooze-fest whose surface you won't feel too compelled to scratch.

With more options and extensive play modes (such as a fantasy draft or minor league system), fewer restrictions placed on defense, and the added ability to tweak computer AI, this series can help set a new benchmark.

Devil May Cry 4 is also nothing close to the full next-gen transformation that the moody, gothic world of Capcom’s demons deserved.

Fans of first-person shooters will likely find issues with the game's controls and slower pacing, and the PS3 game is not a smooth port of the Xbox 360 version.

A respectable compilation of the blue bomber's other adventures, though it pales a bit in comparison to the Anniversary Collection released a couple of years back.

Definitely scores a high Bond quotient, and it's a decent game in its own right. It's short and has a few problems with its driving sections, but it does throw in multiplayer options and a simple blackjack game for good measure.

While Silent Hunter’s harder-nosed target demographic shouldn’t have to wait for more patching to fix this flawed diamond, chances are they will.

The finer details can be hard to discern. This reviewer found himself straining his eyes in an effort to keep up. But as it's packed with plenty of action, gameplayers should be ready for some serious button banging.

Looks great and sounds OK. With its decent tutorial and reliable squad mates, it'll help those new to squad-based tactical games feel at home. It's also a pretty linear experience, but has enough environmental variety to justify the price of admission.

Revenge of the Sith certainly isn't the disaster the Phantom Menace game is, but it lacks memorable moments, and has a few too many damning flaws to recommend a purchase.

Any of the game’s flaws are somewhat balanced by the ability to stab someone in the face, or burn them alive in an incinerator. Well, if you’re into that sort of thing, anyway.

Co-op also makes the bad camera even worse. It's better included than not, but if you want great multiplayer, play the deeper and more fulfilling X-Men Legends or one of the Baldur's Gate games.

It's a capably constructed RPG, to be sure, but it's hard to explicitly recommend Mega Man X: Command Mission to anyone who isn't already a fan of Mega Man or RPGs. If you're a little bit of both, chances are you'll dig it immensely.

Need for Speed: Undercover is a game that both satisfies and disappoints on a regular basis. While the chases provide top-notch thrills and spills, you can’t help but feel like you’ve just done it too many times to really care anymore.

The cups in this golf game don't exactly runneth over in terms of significant content, but at the same time, players shouldn't feel like they’re getting shafted. This is what the first Xbox 360 golf game should have been all along, a familiar but fun time on the links with striking visuals.

A mostly average button masher that has the good luck of being associated with the hottest kids' property to come along in years.

It has the makings of a role-playing classic, but it runs out of steam half-way through. The rest of the game is playable and occasionally fun, but it never comes close to the greatness of the first act.

Lost in Blue 2 does prove rewarding down the back stretch, and fans of Harvest Moon and similar games probably won’t have as much of a problem with the early going. This is a game that expects you to pay your dues, though, and most players will probably find that too high a price.

It is disappointing that only two people can play simultaneously, especially when so many other games feature online support. The camera is also far from perfect--you’ll routinely have your view blocked by troops--and enemy AI has evolved little from previous versions.