Ultimately I came the realization that, at the end of the day, I would have been happier playing this game with a conventional analog stick.

Providing you’re the type of person who doesn’t have any trouble going back and playing 8-bit games, Final Final III is an excellent handheld homage to a bygone era.

The core of this fantastic superhero game is still in place, and if you have ever wanted to feel more like you were actually slashing with Wolverine’s claws, now’s your chance.

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

So this is what it must feel like to be the Arizona Cardinals: You’ve got a new home, but the results are just the same.

I definitely had some fun with this game, but when I was having trouble calling pre-snap commands I couldn’t shake the feeling that for all this title’s individuality, I’d still rather play regular Madden.

If you own both an Xbox 360 and a PS3, choosing which version of this accomplished WWII shooter to buy comes down to how much you like or dislike the motion-sensing elements.

The Wii version is hindered with noticeably weaker graphics and the inexcusable exclusion of the great multiplayer mode.

Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam is an unimaginative and often times annoying game that hangs its hat on a Wii controller interface that is interesting because it is different, but easily forgettable after a few short hours.

The surperbly implemented online tracking and ranking services, plus the rich and varied content, makes Resistance's multiplayer one of the game’s strongest features. Graphically, the game is simply stunning, and when you tie in all the single player and mutliplayer components it is easily the PlayStation 3's premiere, must-have title.

All the beautiful graphics in the world can’t save a game as badly designed as Genji. Unless you’re looking for nothing more than a pretty face, stay well away from this mediocre-at-best effort.

This is one of the funniest games ever made, and a fantastic way to teach yourself the controls of the Wii while simultaneously charming friends into understanding why you just spent a few hundred dollars on this new game system.

There is some tactical entertainment to be had here, to be sure. When the game is firing on all cylinders, the battles are frantic and fun. Unfortunately, that’s a somewhat rare occurrence.

I couldn’t get enough of playing Gitaroo Man Lives, with its infectious tunes and gameplay, and I think that if you have any soul at all you’ll rock out to this game.

The core of this game is far too good to not enjoy. For fans of wrestling or fighting games in general, this annual series has become a required purchase.

Although the improvements made to this year’s entry will keep me hooked for months, I can’t quite call SDvsR 2007 the perfect wrestling experience. There are still flaws here and there that irk me, like Diva matches that feel far too automated and the difficulty balancing in some of the tougher game modes.

If you're a Caduceus veteran, the new controls, multiple difficulty options, and new surgeries and tools will more than satisfy. [Jan 2007, p.103]

Controlling your WRs, the different winning conditions, wall running, and increased Gamebreakers are all smart additions, but they get mired in the poor AI and unresponsive controls.

Just be warned: the sheen of newness that once glossed these games has faded with time, and several might be better left in your memory. But if you're committed to reliving the good old days, this is a reasonable way to go.

Unless you’re a hardcore fan of the book series and film, I’d take a pass on Eragon.

Unless you’re a hardcore fan of the book series and film, I’d take a pass on Eragon.

It’s sad to see so many good ideas go to waste. From the exploration of the wondrous world to the intricate political situation of its denizens, Gothic 3 nails a good chunk of the role-player’s wet dream. The character progression is solid and the core mechanics are good, yet I will never ever recommend this to anyone that I even remotely like. Yes, one broken system can ruin a game this completely.

The noticeable graphical uptick and the Sixaxis controller are not nearly enough to warrant a purchase over Sony’s own current-gen NBA title, and certainly not over the 2K series.

The production values are pretty abysmal, but this absorbing strategy title has hours of potential playtime packed in – more than worth checking out.

Heroes V still comes recommended to strategy gamers, and Hammers of Fate slickly integrates more good ideas into the game. There’s no reason not to like this expansion pack.

Unless you're a hardcore fan of the book series and film, I'd take a pass on Eragon.

There is a metric ton of game to be enjoyed here, and I heartily recommend it to anyone with a lick of interest in the subject matter. Small annoyances, like a mediocre overworld interface and the occasional unit AI breakdown in the RTS battles, are nowhere near enough to diminish this game’s overall genius.

The loading times are a bit long, but once the limbs begin to fly, it’s hard to deny this game’s gory charm.

Dark Kingdom isn’t particularly innovative, and it falls prey to a number of RPG clichés, but when it comes to the important things – the hacking and the slashing – it performs admirably.

With tons of hidden items to collect across the game’s five worlds, numerous minigames to unlock, and fantastic use of the multiple screens, Yoshi’s Island DS is an outstanding addition to the DS’s list of impressive platformers.

While all these improvements are welcome, they can’t totally obscure the fact that this is - at the end of the day - exactly the same Ridge Racer we’ve been playing for years.

A well-rounded game that offers rich offensive and defensive strategies, fluid animations and movement, and solid AI across the board. You really get a good sense for how your player’s weight affects their movements, and also how your teammates are going to react to certain situations.

The IsoMotion controls are still difficult to master, and the story-driven 24/7 mode still lacks decent team AI, but these faults pale in comparison to the amount of things Visual Concepts does right with this hoops title.

I have nothing positive to say about this game. I even hate the menu screen. Perhaps the best thing I can come up with is that this miserable piece of trash is so awful that it’s destined to be the worst-selling game of the PS3 launch.

Overall, it’s about what you expect from SpongeBob on Wii – just barely good enough for a younger kid that loves the show and made a little more interesting by the novel controls.

The characters – despite the level of depth that there is in the subtleties of gift giving and partnering up – aren’t really women at all. Aside from the obvious problems with presenting such unrealistic body images, there’s something disappointing about the way these hypersexualized characters are portrayed as childish, vacant, silly, and vain.

A good primer for kids and adults alike who aspire to explore the greater world of god games. It moves at a nice pace, it is never confusing, and it does a great job of holding your hand and showing you what to do next.

This is one of the best co-op games I have played, especially when you crank the difficulty past Casual and up into the Hardcore and Insane levels. Working with your buddy to flank and outwit the enemy is a blast.

Only those who thirst for that elusive mastery of the concept will be playing for weeks on end. Even so, this may be one of those cases where the remarkable interaction of different gameplay elements should make it worth a look. [Nov. 2006, p.141]

A legitimately good game that beats the pants off of plenty of products on the market this holiday season. There’s little to complain about outside of the lack of innovation. However, it pains me deeply to see this franchise, which has done so much to push the first-person shooter genre forward, moving down the dark path of mediocrity that Medal of Honor has been walking for the last several years.

The new Nail the Trick mode, which enables the player to control each foot’s movement with the analog sticks, adds yet another new move to Tony’s long list of techniques. I’m happy to report that it works well within the established arsenal of moves.

It’s not that Combined Assault is hard. It’s more like the game is very impolite, barely introducing itself to new players. The control and game interface are showing their age, too. They weren’t very good even back when the first SOCOM came out. It’s probably time to rethink the way this game plays.

The framerate chugs from time to time, and the controls feel looser than the strippers at the Bada Bing. Still, the story and dialogue had me laughing out loud a few times. If you are a big fan of the show it is worth a look, but don’t expect much.

I know everybody’s excited for downloading classic games on Nintendo’s Virtual Console, but if you’re looking for the best value for your old-school dollar the best choice is the Sega Genesis Collection. For the low price of $20, you get 28 of the best-loved (and in a few cases, least-loved) 16-bit games ever.

It’s so good, in fact, that there are few gamers I wouldn’t suggest this to, if only for how great of a tool it is to evangelize gaming to friends and family. The high cost of admission is most certainly worth it – this is a show you don’t want to miss.

I can only think of two kinds of gamers who should steer clear of Lumines II: those who categorically dislike puzzlers, and those who tried the first Lumines and weren’t impressed. Otherwise, everyone should see how the best block-dropper since Tetris is building on its foundation and moving forward.

Something always felt a little off when using the touch screen. I just don’t think this kind of touch interface is well suited to the rhythm game genre. After awhile I actually did start to enjoy myself a little, but Nintendo was never able to convince me that the game works well.

Without question, this is the best way to experience Final Fantasy V. However, if you're the kind of RPG fan who needs a strong story to keep you playing, even this definitive version won't be satisfying. On the other hand, if you usually skip through dialogue just to get to the next battle, you'll love this game's unique blend of character-building and combat.

The only big frustration is the eight directional shooting, which never seems to nail your target the way you'd like. [Nov. 2006, p.144]

Children of Mana is not the longest game in the world, but it sure is a fun ride while it lasts, especially if you have friends that are into it as well. [Nov. 2006, p.140]

Where this games shines the brightest is in the new path it blazes, not the traditions it revisits. [Nov. 2006, p.132]

A very entertaining, classic D&D tale that will provide dozens of hours of entertainment to RPG fans, as well as some mod tools with great potential. If the online scene takes off, though, you can expect many years of outstanding gaming out of this little package.

The action in Liberation is good, and at times intense, but it still seems to lack that visceral experience I like to have with my action games, first person or otherwise.

The load times can be annoying, but it's a small price to pay for Power Stone on the go. [Nov. 2006, p.144]

Offroad Fury 4 gives a wider selection of rides than just an ATV. However, this title misses Rainbow’s attention to detail.

The good easily outweighs the bad in this case, though, and plants Death Jr. 2 firmly in the upper echelon of PSP titles. [Nov. 2006, p.145]

As cool as the horror bits are, they are somewhat counterbalanced by the story, which adds nothing to the experience. Because these horror elements worked so well, I wished all the more that a compelling story were there to complement them.

There is definitely something unique going on here, but it doesn’t have that certain hook that a puzzle game needs to pull in the addicts.

The city’s sections felt too similar to each other. I admit, I don’t have all the answers on making a perfect open-world racing title, but Carbon falls short in this area. Don’t worry though, the speed in this game is enough to outrun such criticisms.

It’s one thing for the current-gen versions of this game to be not as visually compelling (such as the sense of speed not being as good), but it’s unfortunate that you only race against three other cars during typical challenges.

While Rockstar Leeds has taken steps to improve the targeting, there are far too many times when large-scale conflicts play out like an absolute mess. Also, if you’ve played all the GTA games, you’ll recognize too many of the same old mission types that we’ve done dozens of times in the past (I’m seriously never giving a hooker a ride again).

Add in the fact that this game features a paltry six international leagues (as opposed to the over 20 of some past FIFAs), the double-team defensive feature still doesn’t work, players’ collision fields are too large, the AI shows very little movement in the box on your corner kicks, and that shots and passes have little accuracy, and you’ll find that this game has taken steps back which counter its promising progress – not unlike the American national squad.

It's one thing for the current-gen versions of this game to be not as visually compelling (such as the sense of speed not being as good), but it's unfortunate that you only race against three other cars during typical challenges.

It's one thing for the current-gen versions of this game to be not as visually compelling (such as the sense of speed not being as good), but it's unfortunate that you only race against three other cars during typical challenges.

The dull, simplistic puzzle-solving relies on a gimmicky control scheme to distract you from the fact that it’s barely a game in any sense of the word.

The missions have a shocking lack of variety, mostly just forcing you to do the same handful of things, but with stronger foes.

The missions have a shocking lack of variety, mostly just forcing you to do the same handful of things, but with stronger foes.

The missions have a shocking lack of variety, mostly just forcing you to do the same handful of things, but with stronger foes.

The core first-person melee combat is incredibly solid and the exploration, storytelling, and character growth are integrated brilliantly to create a unique and compelling experience.

The dungeons are repetitive and graphically butt-like, the combat is unimaginative, and you rarely experience any sense of satisfaction.

Unfortunately, the cartoony graphics, stilted shooter gameplay, and completely rancid car missions fail what could otherwise be a passing game.

Unfortunately, the cartoony graphics, stilted shooter gameplay, and completely rancid car missions fail what could otherwise be a passing game.

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.

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.

While it certainly doesn’t feel like we need a third faction in the Galactic Civil War, the balancing has been well conceived. The Zann Consortium manages to be a worthwhile addition, even if their campaign is a tad bland.

Eureka Seven could have been decent if the LFOs didn't feel like they were slliding on thin ice, or the lifting delivered any sensation of speed or excitement. [Oct. 2006, p.100]

Today, the added content in this expansion is still fun – but it’s more of a lunch with an old friend than a sizzling date with a hottie you just met.

There is nothing here that you can't experience elsewhere in a better game. [Dec 2006, p.156]

Touch Detective is packed with such funny dialgue and stylistic quirk that it may take a few hours to realize that it isn't a very good game. [Nov. 2006, p.146]

[A] half-assed port. The camera is still a problem, controls are still awkward, and save point restarts are still a pain in the butt. However, unlike on the PSP, there are fewer excuses for these flaws on its more established big brother.

Unfortunately, the cartoony graphics, stilted shooter gameplay, and completely rancid car missions fail what could otherwise be a passing game.

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.

The missions find the right balance between challenge and ease of play. Having battles against enemies like giant flying fortresses offers enough fantasy to balance the realistic military vibe. There’s even some ad hoc multiplayer, if that’s your thing.

In the end, it's difficult to determine which would be worse; a day with this game or a day back in sixth grade. [Nov. 2006, p.142]

It’s a retread of familiar territory in every way, such that a game like this five years ago would have had me reeling, but now leaves me feeling flat.

This isn't going to change the world, but far be it for me to condemn it for being a run-of-the-mill RPG with a fun sense of humor. [Oct. 2006, p.114]

Ironically, the very thing that made Bully the subject of so much criticism – the school setting – is also its greatest strength. In Bullworth and the surrounding town, Rockstar Vancouver has created an extremely detailed universe, full of secrets, humorous characters, and hidden activities.

I came for the single-player, which I liked rather than loved, and stayed for the multiplayer, which I used to like and now adore. I have a feeling many other fans will feel the same way.

Little more than "Battlefield 2" with mechs and gunships. In nearly every way, a round of 2142 plays out exactly like a round of its predecessor. Not that that’s a particularly bad thing, but for all intents and purposes this is a $50 mod.

The only real problem with the game is that it sticks pretty close to its prescribed formula. You build trains, make money, and drive competitors out of business. You won’t uncover layer upon layer of depth, you’ll just get more efficient.

Even so, the improvements to the controls and mechanics, plus an option to have a buddy jump in for co-op at any time, means there's never been a better time to pick up a Zap-O-Matic and vaporize some meatbags. [Nov. 2006, p.130]

On the plus side, this is the first game that successfully makes Superman a fun character to play.

The newly playable native factions don’t perform particularly well, and the campaign is the very definition of average. Some different rulesets for online play may cater to certain fans, but The Warchiefs would come much more highly recommended if it did anything to clean up the messy unit AI that hampers nearly every aspect of play.

Given that fact, however, this game largely remains the same as it ever was--due to the consistency of the gameplay from last year. But because that the tour has adopted the new FedEx Cup system, your career can't help but feel a little different. [Nov. 2006, p.128]

As is, it falls well short of minigame standards like "Brain Age" or "WarioWare". [Nov. 2006, p.144]

Apart from the animal stuff, the core game has also undergone some tweaks, like a greater sense of ownership of your surroundings. It doesn’t make Pets more fun, though; the lack of sufficient rewards and direction neuters the whole experience and makes it a chore to play.

A slim offering of new items and interactions in Pets adds less tot he core gameplay of The Sims 2 than any previous expansion. [Dec 2006, p.150]

The biggest improvements are the game's pacing and the weapon creation system, which no longer force you to forge a pile of weapons you'll never use. [Jan 2007, p.115]