Competent but unimpressive.

For mindless, violent action, the title reigns second to none. However, we've played the same game four times over, and it's high time the franchise had a face-lift.

Considering that some of the maps in the "Road to Rome" expansion were spectacular, it's hard to justify dropping $30 on another set of maps and some vehicles.

ESPN is incorporated seamlessly into the game, and it mostly works well, with solid pre-game coverage, a clean interface, and some slick graphic overlays in between gameplay.

There are some good ideas in Heaven & Hell, but they rarely end up making for a fun game. Completing a mission feels more like work. Add a number of interface issues and plain old bugs, and you've got a pretty solid disappointment.

Various goodies you can unlock and a multiplayer option save the game from being a total washout, but this title is otherwise an uninspired take on a sport that ought to be played at the extreme.

Disgaea's loose, unorthodox gameplay, plus its tongue-in-cheek attitude, is just what the genre needs.

What frustrated us most about Republic is that we can see a hint of greatness. We saw many ways to influence the game, but they're all reigned in by the mission design. In its current state Republic: The Revolution plays more like a failed coup.

The highs of the added features are sacked by the lows in basic gameplay.

The online mode and audio commentary show that the series holds promise, but even hard-core college football fans will feel frustrated by this game.

If you already own "Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance" for the Game Boy Advance, then consider this the strictly optional, backwards-compatible 2.0 version.

Fans of anime-style action and stories will especially dig this game, with its heaping dose of Asian mysticism, fatalism, and drama. Beyond that, the strange, magical action and hordes of levels are sure to give action fans plenty of challenge.

May appeal to hardcore football fans looking for a more customizable game of pigskin on the Xbox, but most gamers will lose interest rather fast. Not only are there myriad problems with the overall presentation, but the gameplay also fails to feel as tight or well tuned as this season's other football titles.

There isn't a better 3-D, weapons-based fighting game on the market.

One of the most creative and enjoyable games to come around in a long time. Its mixture of creativity, solid gameplay, and sense of humor make it a game to die for.

The gorgeous graphics, great sound and level design, and innovative gameplay make this one of the best shooters of the year. It's also a very good reason to upgrade your video card.

It isn't as addictive or diverse as the great pinball videogames, but it'll quench your "Pokemon" thirst.

It's exactly what you'd expect in a licensed third-person action/adventure. But that's the problem. We liked the additional characters and multiplayer options, but the gameplay and graphics are uninspired.

As the videogame equivalent of washing down a pack of Pop Rocks with Coke, some will take the challenge head-on while others will listen to the naysayers. Either way, F-Zero GX is now the official barometer of hard-core gaming.

A beautiful game. Much like its predecessor, AquaNox 2 sets a new high water mark (heh, heh) in graphics. High end PC gamers are in for a real treat. It doesn't hurt that the game plays well too. Yet the single player campaign just isn't all that long.

Combine one part action, one part tactical strategy, and one part dodgy AI, add a pinch of RPG-style customization, wrap it up in a third-person perspective, and what have you got? Cold Zero has its good moments, but they are few and far between.

Big things lie in store for the series -- but not in its first incarnation. Take this beginning episode with a grain of salt and save it for a rental.

Yes, the collision is iffy, and yes, the platform elements are vicious at times, but the end result is still better than, say, the majority of games based on, ahem, that other Matt Groening license.

Offers no meaningful reason why you should pick it up over other four-wheeled fun. $30 price tag or no, with better titles like "Re-Volt" buried in bargain bins across the nation, you're better off making tracks in a different direction.

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.

There's a massive amount of technique to learn. When you're playing solo, there's no shortage of things to do, thanks to quest mode and the dozens of training challenges.

Heavy on the text, and some of it is dry and repetitive. There's great depth and nearly endless variety, but only a certain type of gamer will make a match with Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII.

Knocks the chin strap up around the nose of the competition. It's simply the most realistic simulation of football available, and once again, the industry standard.