El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a linear action-brawler, and at some basic levels of design no more ambitious than your standard God of War game.

Quality took a backseat to just getting it done in time for the film’s premiere. Our loss.

If, like me, you have a couple of kids, even teens, prancing around the house – go ahead and rent Fairly Odd Parents: Shadow Showdown for a weekend. They’re sure to get a kick out of seeing familiar characters onscreen, even if only for a few minutes. For seasoned adults, the gameplay will prove to be a bit tired, yet strangely addictive.

Vicarious Visions has achieved a nice presentation with Bee Movie, but the watered-down gameplay is sure to wear on experienced gamers. The game is perfect for the younger set, but older gamers might want to look elsewhere.

The good graphics and challenge do not make up for a corny story, generic game mechanics, and obnoxious music.

Unless you have some little relative who is just begging and begging and begging and begging you to get this for them then I'd say stay way from it.

For those who have never played the original, Pitfall: The Big Adventure will be a worthwhile purchase once it drops below the $19.99 price point. Until then, it's a fun romp through a world of freewheeling treasure hunters, man-eating crocs and hidden treasure--just not quite fun, or new, enough.

Poorly slapped together in some aspects, awkward dialog and delivery noticeably mar Shrek the Third.

While it’s far from the perfect adventure title, Traitors Gate does provide real world puzzle solving in a somewhat interesting environment, something that is pretty much missing from the market otherwise.

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.

In conclusion, How To Train Your Dragon attempts to offer too much variety, but does little to fully develop any particular aspect.

Street Fighter III: Third Strike - Online Edition is not a game for everyone. This is for the die-hard Street Fighter gamers that are looking to relive their childhood and to improve their skills by fighting real opponents and move up in the online leaderboards.

For a mediocre movie to game translation, $40 is just too much coin to drop for a game that can be played from end to end in a single weekend of casual gaming.

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 full as the ocean can be, this ocean is a little shallow - it’s more like a tide pool. The gameplay is there for the most part, but it’s just a little too generic and mundane to excite most people.

Aliens Blast: The Encounter never makes any pretense toward being anything other than it is, a simple straightforward shoot ‘em up extravaganza, and depending upon whether or not this is your cup of tea will be the major factor in your purchase decision.

Unless you really like KOF series or plan on playing exclusively on Xbox Live you will probably want to steer clear of this game.

There were several enjoyable moments during my time in L.A. and I truly appreciate the epic scale and detail that went into this city. I could only wish for thinner traffic, smarter opponents, and craftier police. As it is, everything is just thrown at you, and the entire game seems just a bit…ahem…"rushed".

A simple and fun game that unfortunately gets old quickly.

Simply an average game, both in quality and the skill level needed to complete it. I was very disappointed that the educational aspect that the series was founded on was truncated to include a small area before each level.

The gameplay becomes more work than play and turning on the game starts to feel like punching in for a shift with little motivation to continue.

They have stretched imagination and creativity in a few scenes with things like being outside the train while looking at a few of the doors to compartments instead of the standard inside view. Other than these occasional bright points Murder On The Orient Express is just not much above average.

Mafia manages to keep its engrossing story and wonderful audio package but loses everything else. The graphics are laughable by PS1 standards and the clunky controls and frequent load screens make Mafia an excercise in frustration.

If you want to try the game rent it first and see if you like it before you buy it. Then again, if you’re a hardcore Potter fan with a PSP then this game is definitely worth picking up.

All in all, I wouldn’t recommend this game to anybody as a purchase unless you really loved the first game and just couldn’t wait for another installment.

Hardcore Gauntlet players will probably buy yet another copy of this game if for no other reason than the ability to play multiplayer over Xbox Live, which is admittedly a good reason to play what is otherwise a very dated and boring game that will try your patience rather than test your RPG skills.

Control is one of the most important things to truly let you connect with a game. With OMF I was unable to establish this connection and the game just didn’t really entertain me or draw me in. Fighting, the main thrust of the game, was often a chore.

There simply isn’t anything terribly new or exciting in Project Zoo.

I enjoyed the premise and there is an undeniable charm about this game, but there are just too many camera issues that quickly turn into control and combat issues that make the game more frustrating than fun to play.

If you really, really love Spider-Man and have a high tolerance for dismal graphics and repetitive gameplay and the PS2 is the only game system you have in the house, then go ahead and check this out...maybe as a rental. Or get the NDS version. You'll have infinitely more fun.

In the end, Unleashed features some of the best Sonic action in years – but it also features some of the worst.

All in all Emily the Strange: Strangerous was interesting to play and it sparked an interest in my sister about her series of books but not something I see myself doing any second playthroughs.

The bottom line is that only fans of the SNK NeoGeo or Capcom fighting games should worry about adding this game to their collection.

You can easily spend a lot of time playing even one game to completion, but by the end you’ll probably wonder if you would have been better off getting your noodle baked by watching some anime or slowly roasting ants under a magnifying glass on a cloudy day.

A rather uninspired XBLA release. Sure, Digital Eclipse put all the bells and whistles on the enhanced version, but when the classic plays better than the enhanced you have to wonder what went wrong.

The cutscenes are shockingly brutal, the language is shockingly harsh, and the gameplay is shockingly bad.

The Xbox Live Arcade version is a perfect recreation of the original in every way from the 255 original mazes to the graphics and authentic sounds.

I think this game’s real value lies in the simplicity and accessibility that would be really good for an enjoyable party game or as a rental.

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

The co-op mode has the potential to give the game a decent replay value if they ever get around to patching it, but for now you'll have to stick with the challenging eight levels that will make for a decent arcade gaming experience.

Despite its delectable appearance, Restaurant Empire is not a game for the feeble-minded or faint-hearted. You have to have the stomach to do what it takes to keep your restaurant profitable.

Unless you have some little relative who is just begging and begging and begging and begging you to get this for them then I'd say stay way from it.

If it were not for the poor controls, worse camera, and myriad technical guffaws it might have been an OK game. Some of the ideas are cool, but the execution is definitely not.

Still, flawed as I found The White Wolf of Icicle Creek to be, I enjoyed it. A lot. It isn't terribly challenging of course, but it still has a sense of mystery to it that makes it intriguing and perhaps nostalgic for those of us who survived puberty and fondly remember good old Nancy Drew.

Has all the makings of a great game if only the designers had put more effort into the combat and perhaps mixed up the action with some puzzles and utility belt access.

Tried-and-true fans of the original will be ecstatic with Total Destruction, but the younger hardcore gamers will probably be wishing they were playing their Greatest Hits version of "Devil May Cry 3" or "God of War" for the umpteenth time.

Gamers, especially young gamers, who like Sims, enjoy playing with digital pets, and don’t mind repetition might still enjoy this one, though.

It's really not the fault of the game -- it's the fault of the platform. These kinds of games do not work well on the iPhone, and I'm sorry Mr. Bandicoot, but that does not mean you get a pass.

For a party of friends – either local or online – Spy vs. Spy would make a great weekend rental, but gamers looking for substance in their action platformers would most likely be disappointed with Spy vs. Spy.

Naruto Clash of the Ninja Revolution 2 is a great game if you’re a fan of the anime or previous games in the series (chances are if you are a fan of one, you’re a fan of the other.)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest has all the components of a great game and a movie tie-in, but with such a heavy focus on combat, the designers really needed to polish the combat engine and balance things out for the overwhelming odds they throw at you.

Missions are pretty linear in design with focused objectives and paths to certain areas rigged with a host of enemies, and no means to really flank or come up with alternate routes.

There simply isn’t enough variety in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and the repetitive combat, troublesome camera, and platform-like jumping puzzles will quickly go from entertaining to annoying long before the game is over.

The story line is cliqued, the gameplay is a 3-D blaster norm, and the graphics are just above standard. Then you have the standard multiplayer experience thrown in to eek more out of the game and its engine. Which is good, except that at this point in time, there is no one to play with, literally!

Torino 2006 is going to get added to the long list of Olympic titles that have plagued the gaming community for the past six years. It's like a recurring virus that surfaces every two years and you hope that this time they have found the cure.

Simply put, this game will put you to sleep faster than reading a book on the history of anthropology.

A by-the-numbers RTS that offers few surprises.

No technical marvel, it’s incredibly easy, the graphics are only so-so, it ends far too soon, and there’s no reason to ever play it again once you’re finished. That said, if you’re a fan of the previous Scooby-Doo games, you’ll like this one too.

Just a below-average game that looks dated, plays poorly, and probably isn't worth your time.

While The Chosen: Well of Souls had its good points, I still found my attention wavering. The controls are easy to pick up on, especially if you have played "Diablo II." The story is okay, but we’ve all seen this save the world or perish act before.

Essentially a direct port of a 3-year-old 2D fighting game on a really old (NeoGeo) system. There's not a lot of value here unless you want are a dedicated old school fighting or SNK fan looking for a showdown.

Nice for beginners, but veterans should probably pass on this one.

The game is much better when played with a human partner but there is no online option, so you are forced to play in split-screen.

Simple pick and a play enjoyment.

The title is too instructional, too focused on fire “realism” to be fun.

For all that if offers, the entire time I was playing Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, either online or off, I just kept wishing I was playing something else.

NFL Head Coach might have been better received it appeared on the scene as a newly added mode within the Madden franchise – because as it stands, it really isn't worth your hard earned cash.

A mixed bag of control issues and good looking effects that amount to a fair game.

Having never read the book or watched the movie I was able to approach Eragon from a purely gaming standpoint and was totally disappointed. Not only did it not live up to the franchise material upon which it was based, it just wasn’t a good game.

If you’re sitting at home in your ripped jeans, watching "Army of Darkness" on VHS and have a crumpled Jackson in your pocket, this game is not only calling you, it’s running at you, screaming with a hissing bomb in its hands.

With a clunky combat system, woeful A.I. and uninspiring presentation, I recommend you steer clear of this game, and just re-read the book for the 15th time. Go on-you know you want to.

Universe at War: Earth Assault just never grabs your attention or enthusiasm to want to play and with all the problems you can just leave this one alone.

Although it’s got all the trappings of an RPG, PoPoLoCrois is not very entertaining as a video game. It may be appropriate if you’ve got a PSP and want to keep a young child entertained on a trip, but for veteran RPG players, this game will not be very satisfying.

The game is short and easy, combined with troublesome controls and bland visuals that don’t do justice to the wonderful material the game is based on.

I am a diehard Transformers fan ever since the original G1 series and I can't believe such a staple of the series is missing. With the lack of features, average graphics, acceptable sound, and a completion time of less than 7 hours, I'd say Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Stealth Force Edition is a budget title at best but nothing an avid gamer or hardcore fan would take seriously, especially with the 50$ price tag.

Then again, if there is some nugget of old-school gamer lurking in your core being and you don't mind outdated graphics and unbalanced gameplay then give this game a shot. With any luck it will be in the bargain bins soon enough.

The story has been whittled away to the barest of plots, just enough to tie the missions together, and the movies and voice acting are obviously gone.

Paradise looks great in the cutscenes and passable during gameplay.

If the GBA is the only gaming device you own, and you are craving for an X-Men game, then by all means give X-Men: The Official Game a shot. But for the rest of us, I would suggest passing on the GBA version and instead pick up one of the more impressive console versions.

Antiquated controls combine with a lackluster storytelling technique to create a game that might have been cool five years ago.

There is a lot of presentation but not much substance and the whole game comes off as something that would be better played on my iPhone than my Xbox. This leisurely puzzle games just don’t work that well on the console, especially when there is no multiplayer support or reason to play past the first pass.

Hot Shots Tennis might appeal to the younger gamers, those who don’t know any better and are just looking for simple arcade gameplay and cute characters, but PS2 gamers looking for a quality tennis “experience” will either need to revisit some of the classics like Top Spin, or continue to wait.

Unfortunately the gameplay is linear, repetitive, and boring after the first two or three levels. The chugging graphics engine is also in need of a major overhaul before we see another DS game try to use it. Play if you must, but real console-owning X-Men fans would be better off with any other version than this.

If you are resigned to playing poker on the Xbox, World Championships Poker is probably for you. Everyone else should probably spend that $20 on a deck of cards and a case of beer (legal drinking age assumed) and call your friends.

The game’s new above-water struggle and online capabilities bring something new to the Xbox, but after that, we really have the same old fishing experience we had on the Dreamcast years ago.

With how difficult the game is to judge corners and the lack of realistic racing like the consoles, Ferrari Challenge is not a really great game; merely a decent one.

Penumbra remains a mediocre adventure game with a small handful of interesting elements, and pee your pants moments.

The Dreamcast version might not have the fancy new audio and video enhancements but the gameplay is more fluid and ultimately more fun.

Enemy Engaged 2 has some serious problems but they do not make the game unplayable, just detract from your enjoyment. The graphics and visual effects of a bleak terrain do not help the game out but the great open style of mission setup add greatly to the look and feel of a real battlefield.

Turning Point: Fall of Liberty is a fantastic concept that would make a great movie but doesn’t really evolve into much of a game mostly due to last-gen graphics and uninspired gameplay.

Xotic offers up a fairly mediocre FPS offering for the 800ms points you'll be dropping on it.

It’s just not very fun and has very little to set it apart from other games. EA really needs to take a look at what they are doing with this series.

Cartoon Network Racing, like many other kart racers, is stuck in the land of mediocrity. It doesn’t have enough to make it as good as Mario Kart, but yet it is a better gaming experience than some other imitators.

A couple of years ago this title might have flown but there are just too many music games currently available for the PS2, and American Idol just seems like a quick and dirty knockoff to cash in on the fever of the show.

A mild diversion rather than the full-blown, stealth, spy-thriller it could have been. At times I had fun, but most of the time I was turned off by the frustrating gameplay and slow pacing of the action.

Beyond the controls SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab didn’t offer much aside from frustrating driving.

Spiderwick Chronicles does offer a few hours of enjoyment, but I wouldn't recommend this game to anyone over the age of 13.

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