This game is substantially harder than the previous two.

This game is substantially harder than the previous two, and may cause a newcomer to the series to reconsider their purchase.

I came into this chomping at the bit to play “Knights of Cydonia” but I have found so much more with this game. I’m positive that I will be shredding on this until the next Hero graces my presence, unless a certain Rock Band can steal me away.

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

The Dracula X Chronicles is simply a great package for old school Castlevania fans and newcomers alike.

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.

In short, Zack and Wiki made me love these adventuring, puzzle-solving games all over again. Here’s hoping for a sequel and even more innovation.

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.

Although Trials and Tribulations is essentially the same gameplay as the previous games, let’s admit it…the series is innovative. Who would have thought that the courtroom could be entertaining, better yet enjoyable?

The outstanding combination of tight gameplay and a first-rate presentation make it a great game.

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.

Flight Simulator X: Acceleration really is a must-buy for fans of the series. For $30 you get a great amount of content, and the improvements to FSX overall make it worth purchasing both Acceleration and the original game if you’ve still been cruising in FS2004.

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

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.

A very solid game in terms of pure fun. I wasn’t sure of what to expect of this amorphous blob when I was handed it, but once I logged in a few hours I found I couldn’t pull myself away.

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.

Regardless of whether you enjoy first-person shooters or not, The Orange Box is one title that every gamer must experience. If you buy one game this year, make it The Orange Box.

Added abilities for the multiplayer add some needed depth.

There are some programming errors on the game that some veterans find game breaking. Any simple moves such as throwing a stone during battle, causes this relatively long slow down.

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

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.

The only gratification you can get out of this game is when you pass right by it in the game aisle. Use the money you would have spent for far more gratifying ventures, like rehab. Because if you actually bought this game, I’m sure that’s exactly where you need to be headed.

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.

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.