A few things need tweaking, mostly the funky camera which just zooms in way to close with no option to move it around. If you are looking for a fun game to pick up and play with your buddy, make sure he is a patient one and an experienced gamer.

For fans of Naruto who know what the Hidden Leaf Village is or are accustom to hearing about Trigram Palm Rotations, this game can provide a deep and challenging fight.

So while this was a great opportunity to revamp an aging game and work out any flaws it had for a re-release, the company took the safe route and merely ported this over without fixing anything.

Multiplayer is about as weak as the in-game humor.

Overall this game doesn’t take any chances and it suffers because of it.

The most glaring problems with the game arise in human AI and weird graphical hiccups. Human AI, sorry to say, is dumb.

So while this game puts up a valiant effort to inject some life into the sometimes mundane adventure genre, it falters with a complex interface and a certain sense of hatred you will develop for the female lead.

If an easily amused player can get over the difficulty and monotony, they’ll find an afternoon’s worth of enjoyment here.

All in all, Circle of Doom’s hack and slash formula feels out of place alongside the other games of the series, and more appropriate next to Gauntlet. Frilly-collared warrior needs food badly!

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity’s problems keep it from being a consistent blast - but it has its moments.

Multiplayer mode is basic and simple one-on-one combat, with no frills added on. Since this game is bare-bones to begin with, this is no surprise. So while this game tries to offer an enjoyable boxing experience, the lack of features simply knocks this one down for the count.

But despite what this game has to offer it remains hard to recommend a purchase simply because of all the déjà-vu this will give you. There is almost nothing new here from the previous Tenkaichi titles, besides a ramped up character list and a couple shifts in the story mode.

Next Life could have been fantastic. It is by no means bad – just held back by some strange design oversights.

This game takes many hours of back-study with the show to know what the hell is going on, which means you are going to be confused, guaranteed. But for you Lyoko-heads out there, this should be right up your data-stream.

In short, Assassin’s Creed is two hours of a really good video game repeated ad nauseum for many more hours. It’s fun, but can get very boring.

I had never felt so frustrated in a wrestling game until I played this one.

When it comes right down to it this game is perfect for the newbies out there that have only heard of Cooking Mama and have wanted to try it out. But for those of you that invested time in the original game, it may be best to stay with that one, as this offers nothing new for you.

When it all boils down to it, this is nothing more than another straight laced shooter with little to offer people in the value department.

The final part of the game, which I won’t give away here, should have been FULL of terrifying stuff hitting fans of every size and speed imaginable, and yet… nothing. More non-paranormal enemies. It is, quite simply, the most colossal anti-climax since Halo 2.

I appreciate the game for being an extension of the show and carrying the same humorous spirit, but I think that it could benefit with less attention to the show and more quality game craftsmanship.

This is a title definitely intended for children and gives them something to pass the time with after school gets out. Mothers out there should look to this game to give them some peace and quiet time from their kids.

The controls are solid enough, but there have been so many other stellar shooters over this holiday season, I can’t see why anybody would choose this game.

Hardcore players should probably stay away, but anyone looking for a laid-back and fun time can find at least a little of that here. This game is obviously made for kids, and while they’ll have more fun with it than an adult would, there’s a little something for everyone in this package.

Basically what you have here is yet another port of a movie that just doesn’t deliver in the entertainment department.

Jericho shows a great deal of thought put into the final product, but it just doesn’t rise above its own problems, unfortunately.

ZX Advent delivers a solid 2D platformer that is difficult to find elsewhere, forcing a players to rely pretty heavily on their skill to see them through. Mega Man fans will have their desire sated.

One game-breaking aspect of The Sims 2 Castaway is the load screens. The loading times are much too long and occurs much too often.

This game will provide hours and hours of enjoyment for all boring car rides and classes. Just don’t get too hooked…you’ve been warned.

All in all, this is a great game that suffers a bit on the player-stumping side of things. But for fans of Agatha Christie? There’s no question, this is your game of choice.

If you haven’t played this game before, chances are strong that you’ll have a good time with Beautiful Katamari. Newbies may be confused by the unique gameplay or bizarre story, but this series has a way of endearing itself to you rather quickly.

While the controls help to show a continuing evolution of how we use the Wii’s motion sensor technology, it falls far short of excellence thanks to an annoying timing glitch. All in all, you’ll have a good time with either version of this game that you pick up, but the 360 will present a more robust, challenging and rewarding experience.

The layout of the levels is classic Hawk as well. The cities do a good job of recreating the east coast habitat they’re meant to mimic, but the dingy and gritty style makes it all look kind of ugly. In an over-the-top whimsical game like this, I’d expect a little more lighthearted style because this doesn’t exactly work.

The easy learning curve is something that always made the series a good bet, but with games like Skate emerging onto the scene with a more intuitive control scheme, it may be time for old Tony to learn a new trick or two.

Added abilities for the multiplayer add some needed depth.

It is sad to see something that has so much potential go down the drain. If the game had made use of the stylus it may have been saved, but right now it has about as much staying power as an ice cube in an oven.

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is a good concept and can be fun in short bursts with friends, but it simply doesn’t have the staying power to keep any but the most dedicated of fans playing too far into the game alone.

Balls of Fury was entertaining for a short period of time, but it does get repetitive pretty fast. Thankfully it’s priced appropriately and provides enough entertainment in small doses to justify the cost.

As a whole, however, this game wouldn’t necessarily warrant a purchase from anyone but hardcore fans of the Jackass franchise.

For its price, this game’s capabilities are pretty good. I’ve got another cliché yet relevant quote to end: “never judge a book by its cover.” And in this case, don’t judge this DS game by its cover either.

I simply found the game too age distinctive. Overall, it is a fantastic game for kids.

But this game is not for gamers with a low attention span. Oftentimes I found myself wondering what to do next and waiting for time to pass…in other words, slow slow and slow.

Much like an orchestra with a flat brass section, Eternal Sonata strings together a great battle system and beautiful presentation to the backdrop of an out-of-tune story and lacking character development.

Tries to mix up the formula a bit too much, and the results aren’t perfect.

The game does get a little repetitive, though the increase in difficulty in later levels will keep you on your toes. Multiplayer is pretty much a joke that was better left untold. It's hollow, void of much point and has all the signs of something that was added at the last minute so the box could say “Multiplayer”.

The presentation is fantastic and the multiplayer is surprisingly fun, but unfortunately Airborne’s new features feel like a desperate attempt to get one more iteration out of this aging series. Medal of Honor: Airborne just screams of a game with lots of interesting ideas that no one actually sat down to play and decide if they were fun.

If you can get past the frustrating gameplay mechanics, Medal of Honor: Airborne can be an enjoyable experience. The presentation is fantastic and the multiplayer is surprisingly fun, but unfortunately Airborne’s new features feel like a desperate attempt to get one more iteration out of this aging series.

An exercise in futility, a poorly designed and frustrating experience that questions how loose of a definition we should give to the word “game”.

The story won’t leave you in tears and the gameplay doesn’t break the mold in any way, but as the first epic Japanese RPG on the Xbox 360, Blue Dragon is adequate.

This game is definitely good for those of you who long for the carnival experience and can provide a really fun multiplayer experience as well. In the already very crowded Wii mini-game collection this one may not be the best, but it’s worth checking out.

Dragoneer's Aria misses the mark in critical categories, especially in light of recent competition. You can do far worse than Dragoneer's, that's for sure...but with Brave Story out, you can now do far better.

If it weren't for the horrible way in which you have to find critical information, I'd happily recommend it to anyone with a passing interest in tactical combat games.

Luminous Arc just comes across as a competent game with no single aspect that excels or attempts to push the genre forward. It's basically a generic strategy RPG that benefits from supporting WFC, though even this aspect is bare-bones. You could do worse...you could do better.

The new Weapons system is a fun addition, and actually manages to make the game a bit friendlier to new players. The gameplay itself is solid, but the overall presentation is still lacking. Here’s hoping to a more robust online mode and a better use of the ESPN license in the 09 iteration.

The new Weapons system is a fun addition, and actually manages to make the game a bit friendlier to new players. The gameplay itself is solid, but the overall presentation is still lacking. Here’s hoping to a more robust online mode and a better use of the ESPN license in the 09 iteration.

A huge improvement over previous versions. It's obvious EA wanted to treat the DS platform as a unique entity and not a place to dump a half-assed port. While the graphics won't be winning any awards, it's at least passable now and won't make your eyes bleed.

Tomb Raider’s puzzles remain just as challenging as before, and you’ll spend plenty of time just looking around rooms trying to figure out how to move on to the next area. Thankfully they never get boring.

If you've played Crazy Taxi and its sequels, then you've played this new version. It controls well, looks fine, sounds good...but it's Crazy Taxi, a game that is better off remembered instead of regurgitated.

Even if it’s just to have chess or checkers to play online, you may want to look into this title. The camera support adds a little bit of extra fun to a very bare-bones package.

If you like your puzzle games like Puzzle League or Meteos, then you'll want to stay clear of Picross DS. However, if crosswords or brain-benders like Sudoku is more your style, then you will love this version. It has a lot to offer and the ability to create and share puzzles ensures a long-life span.

It offers a lot of options for your 800-points and 16-player team battles can be quite enjoyable, but there's just not enough meat on its bones to constitute a satisfying meal.

Multiplayer may have been a saving grace, but you won't find any infrastructure play on offer, meaning you'll have to find up to three other people within local WiFi range if you want to get your game on. The original Alien Syndrome was all about co-op alien killing, but the ball has been fumbled in this remake.

Although Final Fantasy II isn't one of the better Final Fantasy games, it's an interesting cog in the 20-year history of the series, and shows how much the series has grown and evolved since its inception.

What we’ve got here is a stripped down version of a great game. It’s nothing short of a complete re-hash, but in the case of Guitar Hero that’s not necessarily a huge problem.

You’ll wonder why you bought this game when you could just be picking random numbers out of a hat. When you see this title on the shelf of your local retailer, if you’re smarter than a fifth grader your final answer will be “No Deal.”

There is a lot here to like if you're willing to look past the redundant quests and better yet, Radiant Mythology is a good entry point for newcomers to the series.

The more you know about football then the more you'll get out of this game. There are some superb play-calling aspects on offer, like the ability to change routes on the fly for your receivers, but again, this is something only the hardcore will make use of.

If goofy, over-the-top minigames are appealing, then Virtua Tennis is the only game in town. If you happen to take the sport of tennis seriously and want more of a simulation, then Smash Court Tennis 3 fills the bill well enough. The only problem I have with both of these games is their overall refusal to advance the genre beyond what we've seen countless times before.

It’s an accessible and easy-to-master Wii game, providing simplistic gameplay and a neat art style. It’s certainly not "Call of Duty," but on the Wii that may be a good thing.

You may be tempted to want to try to relive those memories with a game like Hot Wheels Ultimate Racing, but this isn’t the way to do it. With far more entertaining stunt driving games on the system (such as GripShift, for example), you’re better off just leaving this game on the side of the road.

Sudoku purists will be upset by a number of things in this game. All puzzles appear to be randomly generated, so there’s no way to track which ones you have or haven’t solved yet.

Very similar to most Michael Bay films - graphically intense, but shallow in terms of character and story. Add to that boring combat and you have a game good for fans of the upcoming movie only, though not even Transformer fan in general.

Very similar to most Michael Bay films - graphically intense, but shallow in terms of character and story. Add to that boring combat and you have a game good for fans of the upcoming movie only, though not even Transformer fan in general.

Similar to most Michael Bay films - graphically intense, but shallow in terms of character and story. Add to that boring combat and you have a game good for fans of the upcoming movie only, though not even Transformer fan in general.

The controls and goals are decidedly simple, the story is definitely classic and non-violent, but that’s not to say it’s only for younger audiences. Just about anyone can have a good time with this game, at least for a while. The Wii version is well done, and the controls feel well implemented. It’s funny, it’s fun, and it’s just plain easy to enjoy.

It's not the breakthrough title that Nintendo set it up to be.

The minigames aren’t anything you haven’t seen before on the DS, but they do a good job of breaking up the tedium of travelling Hogwarts.

Quite entertaining. It’s not going to be enough to draw in new fans to this type of gameplay. Let’s face it – this is a love it or hate it genre.

Only fans of the license should buy this game. It’s got almost everything you’d expect from a Transformers: The Movie game. It’s got robots, it’s got explosions, it’s got Peter Cullen. What it doesn’t have, unfortunately, is fun gameplay.

All of the negatives to be found in SimCity DS are terribly unfortunate as all of the elements that made SimCity a classic are here, unfortunately hampered by ill-conceived design choices and a total lack of style.

Technically very solid, with a well implemented control scheme and good enough graphics and sound, but the tedium of doing nothing more than grinding through the exact same thing over and over again really kills it.

Taking into account the shortcomings of the platform when dealing with this type of gameplay, RS:V pulls it off fairly well. It’s still not great, but you can have fun with it for a while if you’re not frustrated easily. Don’t, however, expect anything near the caliber of the experience that you may have already had with the far superior 360 version of the game.

Monster Madness could’ve been fun. It looks good enough to hold its own, and the general concept is pretty cool, but the execution just falls flat of the standards we should all hold for “next-gen” games.

The first problem is the relatively small area you find yourself flying in throughout the missions.

Though Microsoft's Games for Windows Live is an interesting system, they shouldn't have used a poor port of Halo 2 to demonstrate it, and instead focused on creating a great new title for the PC.

Besides the tired gameplay, Mario Party 8 has some serious presentation issues that will make you wonder if you’re still playing a Gamecube game.

Naruto may be a simple and confusing game, but one thing it’s sure to do is make fans of the license happy.

There were a few moments where I felt like Pirates could actually spark my interest, but I left bored in the long run. There’s a decent amount of fun that can be had with this game, but you’ve got to be in the right mindset. Much like the movies, At World’s End is at best a popcorn game.

There were a few moments where I felt like Pirates could actually spark my interest, but I left bored in the long run.

Yet one more DS game that rises above minimal expectations. It’s not a must-have by any means, it doesn’t reinvent the genre and really doesn’t add anything new, but it doesn’t come across as a half-assed attempt to capitalize on a license.

Players who never experienced the RPGs of the 80s are bound to scratch their head and wonder where all the graphics went.

If you’re a fan of the Shrek movies, there is some fun to be had here. Granted, it’s forgettable and uninspired fun that fades pretty quickly, but it’s still fun for that short while.

The real problem for Shrek lies in those controls and the remote and nunchuck sensitivity. It seems the slightest movement of either one will initiate one of your attacks.

If you’re a fan of the Shrek movies, there is some fun to be had here. Granted, it’s forgettable and uninspired fun that fades pretty quickly, but it’s still fun for that short while.

Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam gets an A for effort, but a D for execution.

There’s more of a focus on web-based combat that shows through nicely, but it just didn’t quite do it for us. Although you’ll unlock a good deal of moves eventually, the initial experience may not be compelling enough to make you want to play through enough to get there.

The camera seems really buggy at times. While, for the most part, it does an acceptable job of keeping the action onscreen, there’s no way to easily re-center your view and so things get confusing at times.

I was most impressed with the look of Eets. You may have seen the older PC game, and if so then you know what to expect here. The only way I know how to describe the characters is as cutesy with a serious edge. The characters, especially Eets himself, looks like you could pet him but at any moment he might just bite your head off.

If this title was offered up at a lower price or with more tables, it might be one of our favorite arcade games. As it stands, Pinball FX shook us a little bit, but not enough to TILT.