The lackluster presentation combined with the clunky and often frustrating gameplay makes Fellowship of the Ring more of a chore to play than anything else.

There's nothing deep in Big Mutha Truckers, of course, but the humorous gameplay makes this a surprisingly fun driving game, especially for only $20. Offbeat, distinctive, and reasonably original, there's nothing else like it on the Xbox.

There’s a ton of unlockable mini-games, items, explosions, and levels. It’s hard to find shooters aimed at kids, so on that level, Bionicle is an ok choice. Older gamers, however, will want to pass this one by.

A good portable game is one that excels in short bursts; boring you in a few minutes isn't the same thing.

If the game offered anything beyond a gimmick that grew stale three games ago, we'd have something to recommend. But with nothing more than generic button mashing and a sorry excuse for a career mode, Bloody Roar 4 is for die-hard fans of the series and furries only.

The biggest problem with this game is that it emphasizes the weaknesses of the original's gameplay, and tones down or eliminates many of the strengths.

The presentation is weak, the gameplay flawed, and the reliance on insanely in-depth customization will likely end up annoying most gamers.

A game needs more than good atmosphere. Monster House could have been a spiritual successor to the GameCube launch title, Luigi’s Mansion, and rips off plenty of elements from Nintendo’s haunted, vacuum cleaner-endowed game. It just doesn’t do it very well.

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.

Though Lemmings lacks any multiplayer or customization options, it is still one of the best bargains on any online service.

There is a feeling of respect for the source material present in the Xbox Fellowship that is lacking in the PS2 version. Still, the heavily flawed combat drags this title down to a great degree, effectively making about half the game into more a chore than anything else.

While the computer AI, stat tracking, control, and sound are not in the same league as "Madden NFL 2003" or "NFL 2K3," audiences normally intimidated by professional football games no longer have to wish upon a star for a game designed to their tastes.

With its fair share of gameplay issues and dated presentation, this Samurai walks away with his blade between his legs.

Patient, strategy-minded players who don’t mind reading volumes of on-screen text littered with typos may just fall in love. However, the onerous difficulty and complexity, along with grueling amounts of typo-riddled text, will quickly discourage most from trying to conquer this nuclear wasteland.

Epic Mickey 2 once again pays heartfelt tribute to animation history, and does it with style and sincerity. As with the original game, anyone who loves Disney, Mickey Mouse, or just animation history in general will find something to enjoy here, and the fact that the game is a superb platformer and co-op title is icing on the cake.

As a history lesson it scores high. But as a game, it’s a slow starter with graphics that can’t hold a candle to The Sims. Still, watching history unfold makes it worth a go -- particularly on the PlayStation 2, where there are three more missions than in the Xbox version.

Dynasty Warriors has a rabid fan base, and so it stands to reason that Koei doesn’t want to mess with the formula too much. It’s disappointing that seven years and endless games later, this latest iteration feels like such a miniscule step forward in the series.

Rise of the Argonauts is an unquestionably flawed game. This should not be taken to mean it's not fun to play. Even with the underwhelming aspects of the game factored in, this is a truly ambitious game. It feels like an A-list title made with a C-list budget, but there is heart to it.

A game with a long life span. Colorful imagery, creative levels, and a good score add to the experience.

Amazing Island is the sort of game that lies tantalizingly close to the edge of coolness, yet remains firmly on the side of mediocrity.

As simple and effective the control scheme is, other elements in the game are rough around the edges. It’s a little surprising that more ship types aren’t available in the game (less than a dozen). The visuals are nice, but not exactly jaw-dropping.

It's a budget title plain and simple, and as such it slacks on nearly every aspect. With about three million PS2 racing games and counting -- including Gran Turismo 4 as a $20 Greatest Hit title -- TXR Drift is about as essential as a two-foot high spoiler on the back of your mom's minivan.

The repetitious gameplay, in conjunction with the prehistoric technology, creates a package that few will appreciate.

And urgency is desperately what this game needs, but sadly doesn’t have. Boredom is sure to set in during the very first level.

Throne of Destiny suffers from the same affliction every long-running online RPG suffers from--feature bloat. In catering to its paying customers, the game has become too confusing, too intimidating, and too hostile to new players.

It's a good premise but the game proves to be boring over the long haul... it's just too simplistic and easy to hold your attention for more than a couple days.

The presentation is gorgeous and the gameplay has enough fun elements to make it worthwhile. Though not as deep or complex as it could have been, this is certainly one of the best movies-turned-games we’ve seen lately.

Battle of the Bands simply has no legs. Once you’ve learned the basics of the game, there’s nowhere else to go.