The controls are hardly the only problem facing this forlorn soldier. Anyone who has played a few WWII shooters will be all too familiar with this cookie-cutter list of tasks: take out anti-air artillery with bomb charges, counter-snipe Nazi snipers so troops can pass through an area, take out a few tanks with a Panzershreck, rinse, and repeat.

While all these features give Homecourt the depth it needs, the real revelation here is something that's hard to describe in words: it just feels right. [Mar 2007, p.99]

The slowly paced story turns the fossil digging into a chore, and the real-time battle system starts to feel the same not long after that.

After a while, the recycled environments and repetitive battles start to feel like a chore rather than a reward. [Mar 2007, p.96]

After a while, the recycled environments and repetitive battles start to feel like a chore rather than a reward. [Mar 2007, p.96]

Still, this has more than its share of thrills; it's a fender mangling joy that few games can match. [Apr 2007, p.101]

While GRAW 2 may have fallen behind the excellent "Rainbow Six Vegas," its great multiplayer and explosive single-player storyline still make this game a tour of duty worth taking.

These minigames are passable at first, but the fact that you have to complete one every single time you open a chest will have you questioning whether any treasure is worth this constant hassle.

While this latest entry is definitely a step back for the series, it still has most of the hallmarks of solid action and inappropriate behavior that have always been so much fun in the series.

Immortal Throne’s not going to change the way you look at action/RPGs, but it breathes some new life into one of last year’s better games. For my money, that’s an expansion I can support.

I guess this might be a fun game to rent and beat on a Saturday. After all, developer Collision does add a little something at the end of the game to make it not as much of a downer.

It is practically an exact a port of the original with a few notable exceptions: There are a few Lumines II skins thrown in, the graphics are far less vibrant, and now there is at least five seconds of total silence between skins as the sounds load. Of all of four Lumines games on the market, this one is the least impressive.

It's unusual and unfortunate that the inaugural DDR on the 360 fails to implement the coolest thing that's happened in dance games recently – inputting and grooving to your own tracks.

There's a ton of content here, and even more gameplay to be had. [May 2007, p.97]

These drivers get treated like absolute superstars, and ungodly amounts of money get poured into these racing programs, but that’s not conveyed enough here. I don’t want a caviar-eating minigame, but I think the series should reflect that F1 is about more than just fast cars.

There is so much mindless shooting and wandering in Bullet Witch that when you actually are having fun, it feels accidental. [Mar 2007, p.104]

The third-person camera sometimes causes frustration, but otherwise this by-the-book action shooter serves up a spicy helping of mindless bloodshed.

The one real problem I have with this game is that the ubertrick system doesn’t work nearly as well as it should. The new controls do add something new to the series, but almost the entire time I pined for something more traditional.

So maybe the battle system and AI still suck, and the graphics look like an original Xbox game. Is that really a big deal? Building up an army and conquering a nation is still fun. Who cares if hundreds of other games do it better?

This game rules the base paths with its remarkable gameplay.

MLB 2K7 is certainly a better game, but most of the new content is of the visual variety. I can't stress enough how impressive this aspect of the game is. It captures the look, sound, and feel of the game better than anything you've seen before. [Mar 2007, p.98]

MLB 2K7 is certainly a better game, but most of the new content is of the visual variety. I can't stress enough how impressive this aspect of the game is. It captures the look, sound, and feel of the game better than anything you've seen before. [Mar 2007, p.98]

There's absolutely no reason to put up with the frustration of doing the simplest of tasks in order to check out the futuristic abilities that you'll eventually command here. [Mar 2007, p.105]

Meteos: Disney Magic sports nearly identical gameplay as its predecessor, but the music is so uninspired and bland that even the notable improvements to the bread and butter block-clearing can’t make up for it.

While I would love to give this a higher score, its lack of online play and dearth of innovation hurts its entertainment value. Fans will enjoy it, but there isn't much else here. [Mar 2007, p.100]

The control scheme is poor. While it “works” on a basic level, steering Sonic through levels like an Excite Truck vehicle while flicking the remote to attack enemies is, more often than not, a mess.

The experience basically boils down to the Incredible Hulk thrashing about in a kiddy pool. You have so much power and potential, but it's set in a shallow frame. [Mar 2007, p.103]

While all these features give Homecourt the depth it needs, the real revelation here is something that's hard to describe in words: it just feels right. [Mar 2007, p.99]

Punishing players and withholding any reward adds replay, right? At first I thought this game was a joke, but I was wrong. It’s a joke and total garbage.

Puzzle gaming has had a number of complex entries recently, and this isn’t one of them. It is, however, a fun diversion for about an hour.

The overall high level of polish and deep macro-level scheming are enough to cement its place in the upper echelons of strategy gaming, regardless of personal taste.

Between the receivers’ lack of ball awareness and the game’s horrendous slowdown – which interferes with just about every play – this title is anything but high octane.

The sense of speed is fantastic and the visuals are divine, but the openness of the tracks, cautionary AI opponents, and fact that you really have to go out of your way to wreck serve to suck all of the excitement out of the experience.

The characters, dialogue, and plot are all about as engrossing as run-of-the-mill fanfic, and the battle system is as boring a turn-based snoozefest as I’ve seen in years.

This is a quirky Japanese kissing game. I say kiss it goodbye, because it’s not worth your time. Some games are just made broken. I don’t mean broken in the bug-riddled sense, but Chulip is probably one of the most poorly designed games I have ever played.

The trademark humor, outrageous weapon designs, and unforgettable cast of characters appear to be stripped straight from Insomniac’s portfolio. Which is not to say, however, that High Impact is simply connecting the dots that Insomniac has laid out.

It’s a decent brawler that doesn’t do anything new or interesting, and it stars a skeleton on fire. I’ll gladly take it over yet another collect-a-thon platformer.

If you missed out on this, or are looking for a reason to pull your PSP out of mothballs, The Warriors is a great purchase.

While you can play any of the games solo, Wii Play is clearly designed as a pastime for friends; every one of the nine is best played with two remotes. It’s also a little odd that the entire game seems oriented towards teaching players how to use the Wii remote.

Some of the characters are very memorable and the game has a few scenes that are so bizarre they’re laughable, but the plot as a whole is pretty lame.

Puzzle Fighter alone might make this worth the $30 for a lot of folks.

Sure, leveling up and collecting new items requires nothing more than going through the motions for seasoned gamers. But any title that can throw in as many new systems and nail the core gameplay as well as Lunar Knights does has a spot waiting for it in my library.

As solid as the 360 version is, as a longtime player I still prefer the PS2 version. Even on a rain-soaked pitch, it feels faster, and the d-pad controls feel tighter. [Mar 2007, p.99]

The majority of the game remains largely unchanged. It’s a solid game, but unlike EA’s successful college football game, it doesn’t deliver content that draws you into the experience. It’s great for multiplayer games, but the barebones season does little to keep players glued.

Those who have fond memories of the PSone cult classic "Thousand Arms" will definitely enjoy Ar Tonelico's strange blend of action, dialog, and courtship. [Feb. 2007, p.101]

None of it has the magic supplied by the much better "Mario Kart," and the game starts feeling less like a drive to the finish and more like a time waster.

Final Fantasy VI is one of the best RPGs ever made, and this version doesn't sacrifice any of its inherent awesomeness. From the huge cast of characters and their special moves to the memorable scenes like the opera house event, it is all intact and as good as you remember.

If a slower-paced, more complex title in the vein of EverQuest is what you’re looking for, Vanguard will serve you well. A lack of polish in several areas and strong competition keep this game from being particularly special, though.

It’s a mix of exciting and overwhelming as you try to maintain what feels like 50 pots boiling over at different times. [Mar 2007, p.104]

The game offers a wealth of RPG riches and shows a developer exceeding its previous efforts and working at the height of its powers. [Jan 2007, p.100]

It’s a mix of exciting and overwhelming as you try to maintain what feels like 50 pots boiling over at different times.

In the end, Sonic nuts will love it. Everyone else should stay away.

The only good that this game serves is that it keeps Fuzion Frenzy’s legacy of being synonymous with “bad game” alive for another generation. Even if Microsoft offers it as a five dollar download on Xbox Live Arcade, pass on it – unless, of course, you collect Worst Games of the Year.

The story may be new, but the boring battle system and frustrating quests are all too familiar. Its simplicity is charming at points (especially in the dialogue), but ultimately isn’t enough to salvage the whole game.

This game has a hotel full of strangers with secrets, which might just be enough to get you to stick around to hear them all. But perhaps you’ll want to skip the ambiance and go somewhere with fresher towels.

Pirates offers the same great mix of addictive minigames to which we sea dogs have grown accustomed.

The impressive Dynasty mode and new Team Intensity Mode (which lets you track and alter the individual momentum of your players) offer some interesting strategic aspects to the game, but in the end March Madness still ends up a few baskets short of its competition.

The new zones are huge in comparison to the original game and graphically lush. But it’s the content inside them, the quests and the instances, that make the whole game tick.

What it lacks in advance graphics and interface, JFA more than makes up for in charm and intrigue. [Jan 2007, p.115]

The endless waving of the Wii remote that accompanies every part of Smooth Moves makes you feel excited, surprised, and more than a little stupid. It also happens to make you and your friends laugh pretty much non-stop for an hour or two, and that may very well be worth the price of admission.

Boss fights are rarely this exhilarating, but at the same time, disposing of pawns is hardly ever this boring. I walked away from Lost Planet with sweaty palms from combating giant monstrosities, but also with the feeling that I wanted so much more as I progressed through the quest.

Worst of all, the game is glitchy; I phased through a few walls and got gunned down after getting stuck behind some invisible cover.

I was pleasantly surprised with Arthur and the Invisibles. It steals acrobatic fighting and platforming elements from "Price of Persia" and contextual button pressing finishers from "God of War."

The problem is that no matter which [control sheme] you select, you'll sacrifice functionality - either in maneuverability or how you lob grenades. [Jan 2007, p.107]

Soured by some nagging flaws, Legacy isn't a title that will appeal to everyone. However, its willingness to try something new deserves some healthy praise. [Jan 2007, p.92]

The tactile sensation of pointing at a popcorn cart and flinging it into the stratosphere is interesting and fun, but simple movement and navigation will occasinally be a needlessly frustrating obstacle. [Jan 2007, p.106]

I know the Nintendo party line stresses gameplay over graphics, but taking a majestic title like Far Cry and giving it the Wii treatment is like getting your Ferrari tuned up by a guy who normally works on Chevy Impalas. It doesn’t make much sense to port a franchise known for its amazing visuals, open-ended action, and dynamic enemy AI to a system lacking the power to achieve any of the above on the scale accomplished by the original game.

Blazing Angels is a competent air combat title. I just wish Ubisoft would have delivered the kind of epic experience I’m used to after playing games like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty.

I do like that Super Swing lets you earn special shots if you’ve got enough Pang. Throw in some crazy locations around Pangya Island (including some wind tunnels) and you’ve got yourself a good enough time to keep you shooting birdies all the way to the 19th hole.

It's the definition of basic action, but almost every element works the way it's supposed to. [Jan 2007, p.104]

The racing is now roaring with excitement, but unfortunately, the game has gone flat in another way. The newly implemented arena battles resemble Twisted Metal in design, but play so poorly that it feels like someone is dragging your face across the pavement at 100mph. The dunce enemy AI, frustrating targeting system, and annoying level designs will make you dread these stages when they pop up in your career.

There’s certainly a lot to love, yet equally as much to shake your fist and scream obscenities at in Lethal Alliance.

Putting two characters in the player’s hands proves to be an ingenious way of expanding on Castlevania’s bread-and-butter action. It’s been done before, but Portrait of Ruin’s system is particularly smooth in execution.

One of the best games ever made for the PSP. The single-player ties flawlessly into the multiplayer, where you can test your loyal soldiers against up to five other people via ad hoc, infrastructure, and even game sharing.

Whether you are defending the colony from a hornet invasion by manning goo cannons, racing an obstacle course with a team of ants, or foraging for food, the game keeps things fresh. Too bad none of it is exciting.

Skin textures on the in-game character models are among the most realistic in all of video gaming. The 360 fighters may have looked really good, but these guys look damn good.

Thankfully, the difficulty and complexity of the level design improves as the game wears on. Kirby’s ability to endlessly eat and absorb the powers of what he digests is not only enviable, but pretty darn fun in practice.

War of the Ring mode offers more persistence for units and greater movement allowance, and with the addition of the Thrall Masters and other useful evil units, this is a good expansion pack that does more than just hold the fort.

This collection offers up a wide range of brawlers and shooters from days long gone, but sadly, not many of these are all that memorable.

This collection offers up a wide range of brawlers and shooters from days long gone, but sadly, not many of these are all that memorable.

FTB’s saving grace is its multiplayer, the only real reason to play this game. A lot of the single player problems evaporate when you go online and sample any of the eight multiplayer modes FTB 2 has to offer.

Probably doesn't have the depth to give it the long legs of other titles in the genre. [Dec 2006, p.130]

The best strategy games are able to transform you into a tactical powerhouse as you maneuver your units to victory. Yggdra Union manages to tap into this feeling occasionally with some innovative strategy mechanics, but more often it made me feel like a spectator rather than a commander.

Probably doesn't have the depth to give it the long legs of other titles in the genre. [Dec 2006, p.130]

Look up into the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s another crappy Superman game!

As a co-op experience and as a tactical shooter, Rainbow Six Vegas sets a new benchmark for the gaming industry.

But for fans of college basketball, these faults are drastically outweighed by the deep Legacy mode, solid gameplay, and immersive campus atmosphere College Hoops 2K7 has to offer.

Most of Red Steel’s faults lie with the game’s presentation. Enemies shout annoying obscenities in your direction during every firefight, the cheesy score is bad enough to incite chuckles, and the jaggy graphics look worse than many Xbox and PlayStation 2 games.

As monumental as each entry has been, nothing, and I repeat, nothing can prepare you for the adventure that unfolds in Twilight Princess. The debate that has waged for decades over which Zelda game should stand as the series’ best will at long last come to a satisfying conclusion, as this is unquestionably the greatest Zelda yet.

As undeniably fun as this game is, its downfall is its lack of depth. You can burn through the initial difficulty setting in the career mode in a couple hours.

None of these sports are fully fleshed out, and they simply represent a range of motions to perform with the controller.

The critical path is incredibly long and is joined by bonus comic missions for most of the characters. The teammate AI is very impressive, often getting to baddies before you even see them, but once again, Raven has designed a game that is better through cooperative play.

If you like the Tony Hawk titles like I do, you will find Project 8 to be both a challening and entertaining addition to the series. [Jan 2007, p.99]

A worthy puzzle game. [Dec 2006, p.157]

A worthy puzzle game. [Dec 2006, p.157]

If you’re going to get one of these, go for the faster-paced Beta Wave, but watch out for that nasty addition game. [Feb. 2007, p.111]

If you’re going to get one of these, go for the faster-paced Beta Wave, but watch out for that nasty addition game.

Horrible balancing in the single-player game and a decades-old multiplayer frontend further accelerate Heroes of Annihilated Empires on its quick trip to the bargain bin.