Just a very safe outing for the series. There are no major chances taken and it shows.

With several gameplay modes tailored for addicts and casual players alike, hitting the links with Tiger is an extremely refined experience, which no doubt stems from EA Sports’ decade long tenure with the license.

Well beyond just another competent racing game. It’s absolutely one of the pinnacle examples of simulation racing.

As far as XBLA games are concerned, this is a rare gem.

Someone asked me to describe Ace Combat 6 in a word, and my response was “shallow,” which probably wasn’t fair. Shallow seems to imply a lack of depth to a fault, which certainly isn’t the case with Ace Combat 6. Though you don’t have to worry about flaps settings, ILS approaches, or proper air-traffic control etiquette, Ace Combat 6 is by no means barebones. It’s a lean, mean, fighting machine.

Perfect for both long and short bursts of play, Lemmings is one of the best puzzle games you can own on your PSP.

They want their multiplayer and this is where it shines, though hardcore fans of previous installments will most likely not be very pleased with some of the changes.

Overall, Chromehounds is a coin-flip because gamers will either love it or hate it due to its weak single player campaign and its robust multiplayer mode, which are both wedged in between inconsistent graphics and boring level design.

Pac-Man Championship edition is a welcome change for the Pac-universe. There’s enough variety, newness, and challenge to keep old fans and new players entertained for a long time. This is definitely a great example of the way that retro games should come to the Live Arcade.

If MHF2 had gone the extra mile to delivered Infrastructure mode, well, there would be no stopping this game. As it stands, it's an engrossing, complex adventure game that rewards the player willing to invest a lot of time in exploring its subtleties.

Minor issues with the presentation and level design prevent it from achieving its full potential, yet it's still an enjoyable experience.

Appallingly cute and definitely skews young in terms of style, but if you're man enough to look past the bright colors and cute characters, or at least confident in your masculinity (or femininity, as the case may be,) you'll find yet one more great game from Square Enix, a nice addition to the Endless Fan----Final Fantasy universe, and most importantly, a game that uses the unique capabilities of the DS.

While it is true that the game has a 20 minute install on the PS3, making any immediate demon slicing an impossibility, it isn’t that excruciating of an experience.

I was worried how games would be able to translate the new control mechanics of the Wii into gameplay, but this is a very solid example of how it should feel when it’s done correctly.

Sure, it’s a rail-fighter at heart, but the game offers enough variety and action to keep you suitably occupied. This is a well-rounded product.

For fans of the gameplay found in the earlier games in the series or some one looking for a good place to jump on board one of the best racing franchises on any platform, Burnout: Dominator is a good place to start.

The game's still not perfect, but the end result is a college football title with the depth to appease fans of the sport yet simple enough to attract newcomers. Hardcore fans might be disappointed with the presentation, which doesn't always feel like college football, but there's no denying that the gameplay has been tuned to perfection.

Even with the profanity, the game manages to pull off a high degree of charm that could give this new IP a lot of legs if they can clarify the target audience in a sequel.

The new Wii controls definitely make it worth plaything through again. At $29 there’s almost no excuse for not picking this one up, especially if you’re looking for the best demonstration of the Wii Remote yet.

The 360 version flat out stomps the PS3 this time.

Though Enemy Territory: Quake Wars certainly doesn’t reinvent the team-based multiplayer shooter, it borrows just enough from each figurehead and adds its own style and polish to produce a rock-solid online game.

After all, if the creator of many popular videogames can’t stop playing his own titles, that’s probably the best statement that they are worth your time as well.

This is a great game. If you’re willing to abandon your preconceived notions as to what a Shadowrun game should be and simply accept it for what it is, you’ll find a deep and complex first-person shooter that is tons of fun and packed with variety.

The gameplay is as smooth as ever, but the graphical improvements really make it jump off the screen. With the extra content, online play, and not to mention the chance to win a real trophy, it’s pretty much a must-have game.

Even in a time swamped with deadlines and tons of new releases (see: Holiday season), we couldn’t get enough Elebits.

Graphically, Shrek the Third is top-notch, offering superb 3D environments that are displayed on each DS screen. There’s an attention to detail in all of the varied environments that bring the world of Shrek to life.

A few improvements could have been made to increase the game’s longevity, but for a first strike this is an excellent outing. Fighters should lace up their gloves and go a few rounds with this game, just don’t get knocked to the floor.

The extreme care taken with reproducing the world, characters, and story of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix results in certainly the best Harry Potter game yet and a perfect counterpart to the film.

UT3 is quick, fun, violent, and positively a blast to play, despite a couple minor shortcomings.

The fluid and intuitive controls provide a refreshing change of pace, and a great level of challenge. The graphics are well above par for the PSP, and the addition of course creation modes and online play should definitely keep you coming back for more.

The collection aspects of the game in addition to the online modes make this a real gem in the PSP’s lineup.

A great game that should appeal to those zealots and casual players that eat this stuff up. The features and game modes offer a lot of options, the presentation is excellent and the text-recognition actually works and works fast.

Playing sideways is definitely a great improvement and the ability to swap blocks sideways is an interesting touch, but I'm not sure that's enough to merit a purchase for veteran players.

In the end Stuntman: Ignition feels like opening night at one of the many big-budget blockbuster movies it spoofs - an expensive ticket and a long wait can get you the perfect seats for some very rewarding action.

Curious newcomers will want to sink their teeth into one of Guild Wars’ other three campaigns first, but if you’re looking to get a bit more out of the Guild Wars experience and want to prep yourself for its coming sequel, Eye of the North is a great interim solution.

In the end Stuntman: Ignition feels like opening night at one of the many big-budget blockbuster movies it spoofs - an expensive ticket and a long wait can get you the perfect seats for some very rewarding action.

We were huge fans of VCS when we were able to carry it around in our pocket, but the PS2 version is definitely lacking some necessary optimization.

Feels like opening night at one of the many big-budget blockbuster movies it spoofs - an expensive ticket and a long wait can get you the perfect seats for some very rewarding action.

Even though the graphics are going to be toned down here, it’s still a solid and enjoyable game. Online is scaled back on the PS2, allowing only 16 players in a game, rather than the 24 offered on PS3.

This game is substantially harder than the previous two.

Phoenix Wright is pure coolness. If you can handle the slower pace and very different style of gameplay, then this is one of the best titles available on the DS.

While you're obviously not going to get the same experience available on your Xbox's big brother, the 360, the game is no slouch here.

Fans of the series will be delighted by the recurring themes, but may be soured by a strong sense of repetition.

The nature of game lends itself well to the PSP, offering a nice pick-up-play experience that doesn't bog you down with details or an hour worth of 9-innings.

Savage 2 is something of an anomaly in the current lineup of PC games, borrowing elements from Natural Selection, Planetside, Hellgate: London and others. Whether you’re a RTS fan, a FPS junkie, or you’re looking for the next great competitive action RPG, you’ll find something to like in Savage 2.

Though the online mode fails to reach its potential, the game itself is polished to perfection.

In the end, while not a perfect incarnation of the Ghost Recon series, GRAW2 still manages to be one of the strongest FPSs on the PSP and is well worth your time.

The extreme care taken with reproducing the world, characters, and story of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix results in certainly the best Harry Potter game yet and a perfect counterpart to the film.

This game may not be a pillar of innovation or creativity, but it is fun. The combat is straightforward and the single player campaign is short, but fans will definitely have a good time here. The game is structured very well for a handheld platform and there’s enough replayability to keep you coming back for a while.

The combat is a tad clunky, and the story is just shy of copyright infringement, but dammit you’re not going to care. This is a nice trip down memory lane, albeit a long one.

Though the online mode fails to reach its potential, the game itself is polished to perfection.

The artists at Big Huge Games did a great job of capturing the unique building structures and military units for the new factions.

All in all, this game may not be a pillar of innovation or creativity, but it is fun. The combat is straightforward and the single player campaign is short, but fans will definitely have a good time here.

No baseball game will ever be perfect. But with a patch here and there, MLB 2K7 is easily on the path to being the greatest baseball game ever made. There. Someone had to say it.

Superstar Challenge alone is worth it in my book. Those that are adjusted to the next-gen experience on the home consoles might find that the PSP version comes up a little short in the features department, but the gameplay is still tight. This is definitely the best PSP Madden yet.

The extreme care taken with reproducing the world, characters, and story of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix results in certainly the best Harry Potter game yet and a perfect counterpart to the film.

All in all, I’m having a great time with Final Fantasy III and am enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. The only disappointment comes in the lack of true DS functionality, something that is counteracted by Square’s traditionally deep and rewarding gameplay.

The only thing missing from this experience was an actual video of eight-year-old Josh crying at the end of the game. I would have paid a lot of money to see that.

Nintendo didn’t change much with Mario Strikers Charged, and they really didn’t have to. The transition to the Wii is a comfortable experience, and the online mode, though a bit clumsy, is a welcome addition.

The unfortunate truth about Resistance: Fall of Man is that it’s just not all it should have been. It’s probably one of the best launch titles from any console ever, but with the extra time they had before release it should feel like a solid year-one title. It doesn’t.

This is a fairly decent example of some of the things that can be done with the Wii’s controls, but a more focused all-around title would be easier to recommend.

Whether you’re a fan of the movie or a new initiate, this is definitely one of the strongest titles in the PSP’s recent library.

NASCAR 08 is a decent effort at bringing this series to the next-gen platforms, but ultimately doesn’t have the muscle to be a first-place finisher.

It satisfies on many levels – easily accessible and involved gameplay coupled with great graphics and a cool story.

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.

I had a blast playing it for the first hour, and the next hour or two was still fun. But as time went on, it quickly dwindled into something stuck between a linear action title and a sandbox game, with neither of those done well.

The many multiplayer possibilities should buy you a lot of time with the title, but the single-player campaign is just entirely too short (while the tutorial is mind-numbingly long).

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

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.

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.

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”.

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.

The area where the PS3 version of this game really impresses the most is in the amount of brand new content that’s been added here. There are nearly 30 new missions, 6 new vehicles, 7 new weapons and an impressive 25 new execution styles.

The online play is fairly impressive, with a field of up to 11 human competitors that’s rounded out by another 11 AI opponents. The only real problem with this game is that it’s just not fun.

The many multiplayer possibilities should buy you a lot of time with the title, but the single-player campaign is just entirely too short (while the tutorial is mind-numbingly long).

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

In the end, you can't help but feel that Jade Empire lost its focus in the design phase. No one element really works, no one element really stands out.

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.

High Treason is a great game all around, but will most likely not gain the attention of most gamers, due to Atari’s muted response Direct Action. Without more online players, and with other competing modern-warfare RTS’s, High Treason is likely to slip under the radar, never gaining the popularity it deserves.

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.

Frankly, Tecmo's "Super Swing Golf" has Tiger beaten, something I'm sure irritates the hell out of EA...and myself. I want a realistic golf game, and the Wii is the gateway to that goal. Well, I guess there's always next year.

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.

If you like to feel you're playing a platformer with punishing boss battles, then you just may love it. If you've grown up playing American or European shooters, then you are bound to be disappointed by most of the design decisions.