Nightshade isn't the sharpest depiction of ninjitsu out there. But we can't say it's entirely demanding of seppuku either. Some will enjoy the mindless mayhem, warts aside.

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.

Even with all of the cosmetic and gameplay changes, the improvements from the first game are minimal. They're not enough to bump it up an extra star.

Split-screen multiplayer is in, but the game completely lacks online multiplayer, which is downright shocking for a racing title in this day and age. L.A. Rush feels like a fourth place finish in a highly competitive field.

For most players Operation Surma will feel like a stopgap measure until Sam Fisher returns for the next "Splinter Cell," despite its great gadgets and fairly solid play. It's just too reliant on this recently popular template, making every weak spot seem glaringly obvious.

If you expect the budget price to reflect the game's poor online performance, you shouldn't be too disappointed. If you demand the same performance and quality in your games that you do in your cars, you'll probably want to pass this one over.

By the time you’ve whipped your way through a dozen or so levels, you’ll probably be getting a little bit tired of mashing the square button and twirling your analog stick. You’ll also notice that other aspects of the game are a bit sloppy.

It's too complex for the very young, and there's not much of interest here for older players. As such, the game seems best suited for parents seeking some non-offensive entertainment for their kids.

A likeable platform game, but as it progresses, its lack of variety makes it dull.

Everything in the game is too clear and too consistent. There’s no room for ambiguity or context. You’re either a goody two-shoes or a complete jerk.

A reasonably engaging, yet perfectly average experience--much like most summer blockbusters.

To move away from the pack, Underworld takes a very interesting stance by focusing on tackling cliffs rather than tackling tigers. It’s the right idea with wrong camera and gunplay to pull it off.

It's like one of those pricey meals that foodies order at swank restaurants. Three bites and the plate is clean. It's a good thing that Cooking Mama has an early bird special price tag, because right about now we're ready for the desert menu.

Despite the appealing presentation, it's generally a de rigueur platformer, and no more than par for the series. And with the wildly extreme difficulty settings, this is one for die-hards only.

It’s not innovative or great in any regard, but it does provide plenty of explosions and challenge. It’s also far and away the only decent game to yet come from the franchise.

Bluntly put, Frogger Beyond is quite difficult. Your patience and reflexes will be put to the test from the beginning and things will only get harder as you progress.

The bar has been set higher by "ESPN NHL 2K5," whose presentation, sense of realism, and play modes simply outclass, outshine, and outperform those found in NHL 2005.

Fans of the character and the action sequences will likely find plenty to enjoy, but anyone expecting something more will be disappointed.

The sorry presentation and a complete lack of multiplayer missions--online or otherwise--ultimately keep Yager from being a top-notch game.

There is a bit of difficulty with the camera, however--that being the lack of a universally useful view of the pitch. The default side camera is restrictive when it comes to all that punting, and more than once a bit of critical action took place out of view. That's fine for art films, but frustrating here.

For its ambition and tackling of two genres at once, Battlestations: Midway ain't half bad. Its duality means that not a lot of players will absolutely fall in love with it, but there's enough here for most gamers to find themselves happily immersed.

The missions are more engaging, the environments more detailed, and the graphics substantially improved. Sadly, the interface has become unnecessarily complicated, and the few bugs that exist upset the game's flow.

Platform fans of yore will definitely want to play this one, but gamers looking for something new or original will be disappointed.

Heatseeker is a very fun game to play; it’s just not one that you’ll want to play for long. The simple gameplay and tight controls feel spot on but everything else built around them fails to live up.

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If you're looking for the ultimate racing experience, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Serious gamers shouldn't give it a second glance. It's simply not designed for them. Anyone looking for a good time or an excellent gift-giving opportunity shouldn't pass the game up, though.

Simple, yet fun, Polarium is an engaging puzzle game. It proves that the touch screen can be used for more than gimmicks.