While not as modern as some other famous series (ala Final Fantasy X), it's still a great RPG game in its own right, and fans of the genre shouldn't miss this one.

The controls are great, the action is intense, and the challenge is continually evolving to test your skills and abilities. The relatively short missions are served in bite-sized chunks perfect for handheld gaming.

You can’t go wrong with a game that’s got beauty, personality, and fun, and Dragon Quest VIII has all these in abundance.

It offers things that both Underground and Hot Pursuit lack. Nice visuals and an amazing array of tuners and exotics to choose from could possibly make this the “most wanted” racing game for the Playstation 2 this season.

The big draw for Need for Speed Most Wanted is the return of the cops, and while that aspect of the game works great on the console and PC where you can actually lose them with skillful driving, Most Wanted 5-1-0 on the PSP bashes you over the head with unrelenting cop chases that suck nearly all the fun right out of the game.

Tries to bring the drama of the street home to you, but comes away with a vanilla game instead, replete with bugs, glitches and other issues.

While this is a valiant effort to fill a much-needed gap in portable gaming, there are just too many issues that keep this game from being all that fun or anywhere close to becoming as next-gen as the system you are playing it on.

While not perfect in execution, once you get past the balancing issues in combat and the overly complex game world with hard to find destinations, you will find a compelling adventure and some truly brilliant concepts at work here.

It’s annoying however to be traversing through a level and then without any warning or because you were moving too fast you’re thrown to the bottom of the screen and death. I’m all for a challenge, but this kind of punishment simply is not good design.

Definitely a better game than its predecessor, but only because it fixes what was wrong in L.A. It never really tries to go anywhere new (aside from the East Coast), and the familiar gameplay might get a bit predictable and even stale before you finish this big city adventure.

The amalgamation of the open-city concept of the Underground games with the police chases of Hot Pursuit make for a sort of "best of" of the NFS history.

You'll never catch me playing this game in the arcades but having DDR on my Xbox ready to humiliate myself in the privacy of my own home is undeniable fun.

It tries, but usually it fails. The game feels kind of half assed, to be perfectly blunt.

It's nice to see a slew of exotics alongside sport compacts. The newest Need for Speed may be the most wanted of the season, being one of the best racing games for now.

I don't give it my highest recommendation, but fans of the film should be delighted with the game, and the rest of you may be pleasantly surprised by it.

A surprisingly deep dungeon crawler that makes ample and ingenious use of the DS’s touch-screen. The game plays well, sounds awesome, and looks absolutely stunning on Nintendo’s handheld wonder, and if it were not for a handful of nagging annoyances, it would be getting top honors.

Combines classic elements of the best wrestling games to see the light of day, such as excellent animation/facial mapping, a wide assortment of events/wrestlers and a solid soundscape.

The best part of X3: Reunion is ultimately doing your own thing in space.

From the obtuse system of management, to the lack of total control with the movie making, this game will disappoint somewhat. However, on balance, The Movies contains some remarkable features, that could only be spawned from the likes of Molyneux.

Probably not worth much more than a simple weekend rental.

This game has it all. Fantastic solo gaming, endless online options, a console interface, SOCOM 3 connectivity, and even the promise of voice chat if I can ever find that PSP headset.

If you’re a meticulous type who likes to see and do everything a game has to offer then you’re going to enjoy this. If you enjoy 3D action/shooters, you’ll find this title fits like a glove.

The most important question to ask of any game is, was it fun? And GUN answers with a resounding yes.

All in all, Karaoke Revolution Party is a dish best served up with a bunch of friends, a case of beer and a lack of inhibitions.

I had a great time with Fatal Frame III despite the aging controls and unoriginal gameplay.

I can think of a dozen things that would have made this game better, or at least more attractive to the casual gamer, but for those who love the Lord of the Rings and need a solid strategy fix on their PSP, this will easily fill that need for a few months to come.

Despite the lackluster presentation, the core card gameplay in the World Championship Poker 2 is solid. Fans of poker should definitely find the game both challenging and entertaining.

As the movies and books mature with their audiences this game seems to have been left behind a grade in an attempt to attract a new generation of gamers that might be too young for the material the game is based upon.

In reviewing Karaoke Revolution Party for GCM, I played this game with three other people, and we had a blast making spectacles of ourselves.

Merges an epic, and oft-times emotional story with challenging gameplay and realistic horseback riding and mounted combat.

And for those of us who couldn't sing to save our own lives (I'm with you guys on this one too), this game actually does help improve that department a bit.

The best western action-adventure game to date. With its go-anywhere, shoot/do-anything gameplay, it's like Grand Theft Auto Wild-Wild West style. The graphics are a big disappointment, but the amazing animation, presentation, and sound make up for its downfalls.

But Rare has once again pulled the rabbit from the hat and proved that intelligent game design, charming characters, a grand story, and a next-gen audio and visual presentation is the foundation for an enduring title that should be part of every Xbox 360 game library.

The single best addiction you can play on the PS2 this year... perhaps ever. [Actual score = 11 (or 110), a la "Sinal Tap", but our scale only goes up to 100, so if you need that extra little push over the cliff, just get the game.]

Operation Penguin is technically a very solid game, and only falls apart once you realize that no matter the environment, no matter the level, no matter the character...it is all the same old same old. Good, but old.

Sure it wasn't perfect but at least it was fun and playable and easy on the eyes. I have to admit I did miss playing as Neo, which only makes it that much more painful to be the bearer of bad news.

Where’s My Pony? offers a fun family adventure, even if it may not be the most original game on the market. The puzzles and controls are easy enough for young kids to figure out and enjoy. This game is a good buy for any little girl who likes the Cabbage Patch Kids or horses.

Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures will certainly delight fans of the show and younger gamers.

While the developers of Zathura tried hard to make a solid movie-to-game conversion, when it comes down to brass tacks the game just isn't all that good.

Just like Lament of Innocence, the presentation and core gameplay fails on almost every level, making it difficult to differentiate it from any other generic action game out there.

By fixing some of the prior title’s technical wrongs, and by including space-based combat and an attempt at an actual storyline, Pandemic and Lucas Arts have finally produced a game that has a little bit of something for every Star Was fan and non-fan alike.

TRAPT is one of those games that is wickedly fun to play, but it’s not all that deep of an experience or even that challenging until the very end where the enemies have an almost unnatural ability to detect your traps.

It’s ironic that a game staring Shrek – one of the most popular computer animated characters ever created – is a complete clunker on the home computer. Pretend this title is one of Shrek’s fart attacks and give it a wide berth.

It’s not too simple that older gamers won’t have some fun, and it’s not too terribly difficult that some grade schoolers won’t be able to grasp.

If you want something to entertain your children on a long drive to grandma's house, try having them watch a movie. That might actually keep them occupied longer than The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer would.

Trollz gameplay was probably some of the least insulting that I have found in this whole kids show/video game crossover genre. I only wish there were more than five mini-games, and maybe a bit less story.

A fun little superhero romp targeted toward pre-teens. There are a few balancing issues and the game really needs to be played with two people at all times even if you do end up arguing over who gets to play Mr. Incredible.

The only thing that was holding this game back was its limitations put upon it by having to follow an established movie.

Gritty realism aside, no other game has ever grabbed me from the opening level and captivated my interest from start to finish like Call of Duty 2: Big Red One. I literally played this game until I was too tired to play anymore, went to bed, got up, and played it some more.

It's sad when a game made ten years ago can out-perform one made today.

As a children's game The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer succeeds spectacularly. It's a perfect game to plop down your child in front of without having to worry about content or frustration.

Excellent sounds, graphics, and gameplay are rooted in Call of Duty 2: Big Red One.

The only thing that would really make it worthwhile to me is playing through far enough to unlock Turtles in Time and then playing that. It's sad when a game made ten years ago can out-perform one made today.

It's good to be bad. That's the core idea behind City of Villains, and although it doesn't let you be as wicked as you might like to be, it remains a very good game.

If you want barely controlled chaos in a bright and awesome sounding package Star Wars Battlefront 2 is for you.

Not only is it the best handheld adaptation of a major console title, it adds extensive PSP-exclusive features making this a must-own game, even if you already have the game for another system.

I found the game quite disappointing when I could not solve the mystery but rather hear the murderer tell the tale at the end about why they did it and some of how.

Casual shooters would be better off waiting for the next attempt at this genre or even better, check out "Coded Arms," another take on the FPS genre that offers a better, but somewhat repetitive solo game, and a much more engaging multiplayer component.

A valiant attempt at bringing a quality pool game to the PSP, but between the load times and the clunky shot procedures most of the fun is quickly sapped out of this title.

Heroes of the Pacific is an extremely Arcady, historical WWII fighter with enough planes and amazing explosions than Pearl Harbor alone. If you like flying combat and extremely diverse gameplay, then become a hero to yourself and buy this game.

Everything about the core gameplay and fighting engine has been tweaked and refined and taken to the next level. Soul Calibur III is the definitive fighting game on the PS2 mixing up martial arts, weapons, and more levels, characters, and game modes than you can shake a giant sword at.

With more campaigns and the larger and non-linear missions and objective structure, Call of Duty 2 is easily much more than the original. It is a finely tuned work of art with so much research and attention to detail incorporated into it that action gamers will become totally immersed in the unrelenting experience of brutal combat.

Yet another smash hit for Sid Meier and crew, combining deep elements of strategy, with improved graphics, and a stellar soundtrack. Anyone even remotely interested in history, turn-based gaming or anyone who even owns a PC should check this excellent title out.

Shrek SuperSlam is a quality fighting game, combing raucous arena style battles with a party game atmosphere, not to mention the high-spirited cast of characters from the hit films.

Due to the smaller size of the GBA some games just don't work on the system, Shrek SuperSlam is one of them.

Those coming from a Smash Brothers background will likely blaze through this game and walk away hungry, but for those looking for the casual fighter with charming characters and delightful animation, you can't go wrong with the cast of Shrek.

It lacks the polish that could make it a worthy brawler right up there with Super Smash Bros. or Power Stone, but it's a fantastic entry level game for the kids with just enough depth to make it an occasional round with the adults.

It’s not often that a console title can make the successful leap to a handheld, but when that handheld version actually surpasses the console in many key factors, you know you have something special.

The dynamic gameplay, wealth of replay-value and solid presentation, make for a worthy experience.

It’s a more linear experience, but it hasn’t lost touch with what makes The Sims unique and appealing.

The graphics are dated, the gameplay is buggy, and the online mode is virtually unplayable.

The Sims 2 is a very linear game with marginal graphics and minimal sound, but all in all it should please fans of previous Sim GBA games or those looking for a parody of a reality-TV show storyline

As an adventure game, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth manages to live up to the genre expectations.

Whether you are looking for an action-focused single-player war game or a fantastic multiplayer experience that rivals those Tom Clancy titles, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is a masterful bit of game design.

If you've already got this game for the PC or even have had your fill of the earlier games in this series, The Sims 2 might not offer enough new to really get you excited about it.

One of those games that, like its predecessor, appeals to almost everyone and practically never gets old.

There is definitely a lot to do between the different modes of play, and the cartoony element of the whole game is always entertaining.

I had almost forgotten how much fun I had playing the original Serious Sam, but it only took one level full of laughter and insane action to quickly remember why Sam is still the best FPS game in its class since the original Doom.

A nice visual and audible replication of the anime, but it still lacks the in-depth story of a true anime.

The additions to the game don’t alter the basic strategy that much. So while this is a solid RTS title, it certainly isn’t breaking any new ground.

A great experience but it almost seems like a niche title for those who really like boss fights. As for me, boss fights are generally the least enjoyable part of a title for me.

But the betting system wasn’t integrated tightly enough so it is just as easily forgotten, and when you factor in the clunky fight engine and predictable combo system, the game loses much of its appeal.

There is a little bit of “Medal of Honor” here and some “SOCOM” as well, but really this game has an identity all its own with a unique mood and feel. It isn’t the most challenging war title I’ve ever played but it is one of the grittiest.

Spyro: Shadow Legacy is surely a dark day for the Spyro franchise, but I suppose the good news is that it probably couldn’t get any worse. So if and when our beloved purple hero returns to the DS it can only be a better game.

Add to this the solid graphics, the intense sound of warfare, and the electrifying strategy of squad command, and you have another great title from Gearbox. However, our patience for ingenuity is waning, and I only hope we can see some fresh features in the next installment.

Fans of last year’s X-Men Legends game are going to absolutely love what Raven has done with Rise of the Apocalypse.

There’s still room for improvement – THAW isn’t quite as wide open as we’d hoped – and it will be interesting to see where Neversoft takes the series on the next-generation consoles. For now, though, THAW is plenty hot.

There just isn’t all that much substance and certainly no flash with Namco’s latest retro invasion on the DS.

SK8Land seems to have all of the right ingredients that should make for an awesome handheld Hawk experience - but for some reason, the final product just is not all that engaging.

The possession mechanic is hands-down (no pun intended) one of the coolest things I have ever seen in a game, and never before has farting in a crowd been so helpful. But make no mistake – Stubbs the Zombie is no Psychonauts.

Neversoft has done what I would have thought impossible a month ago. They actually created a game that sold me on the sport of skateboarding, at least in video game format.

It definitely is a lot slower with more tactics than many gamers are used to unless you play a lot of Tom Clancy games, especially with the new team command options.

For gamers like me – who simply like to have a deep, challenging and fun romp through a mystical and medieval world – Fable fits the bill perfectly.

While American Wasteland may have the gameplay nailed down, it falls short of being great on the Nintendo GameCube. If you really want to experience the true greatness that is Tony Hawk's American Wasteland then you'll need to play it on another system.

The Warriors can be a very fun jaunt, but it can also be extremely repetitive and frustrating. It definitely explores some new territory in console gaming, but comes up a bit short in the execution.

An extremely well done shooter as far as the action goes, and only suffers from a few flaws such as the lack of level and enemy variety. If you can overlook those flaws, you will have a lot of fun battling a very elusive AI, which makes each and every firefight a unique and exciting experience.

It has a very simplistic strategic level that amounts to rolling craps when deciding who and where to attack.

Serious football players probably won't enjoy this game aside from its humorous elements, but anyone with a sense of humor and a proclivity towards extreme violence and severe bodily injury will have the time of their life.