The rare success of style over substance. It has everything an Austin Powers movie offers, but draws it out over twenty hours instead of two. There are sparks of genuine delight that make you wish the game was balanced better.

How many rednecks does it take to enjoy The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee? Three! One to play it, one to drink his beer and one to shoot the player when he asks to be put out of his misery. Unless you’re a die-hard fan, look elsewhere.

A decent game and offers a few neat tweaks to its classic formula, but in general does very little to break the mold of its predecessors.

Astonishingly, this series is showing progress. If you owned the first Rocky, there is not much new here beyond playing as other characters, though newcomers will undoubtedly appreciate the way the game pays homage to the films.

Freestyle control is the same as it ever was, which is a good thing as it still trumps "ESPN" as the better, more responsive control system.

The music rocks. It's a combination of jungle, pop and a barbershop quartet and is thoroughly weird and catchy. The quirky approach to the composition helps give the game its attitude.

Astonishingly, this series is showing progress. If you owned the first Rocky, there is not much new here beyond playing as other characters, though newcomers will undoubtedly appreciate the way the game pays homage to the films.

Freestyle control is the same as it ever was, which is a good thing as it still trumps "ESPN" as the better, more responsive control system.

If there's one area in which ESPN clearly dominates the competition, it's in its graphics. Player models are terrific, the framerate is smooth throughout and the animations are pretty fluid.

How many rednecks does it take to enjoy The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee? Three! One to play it, one to drink his beer and one to shoot the player when he asks to be put out of his misery.

It’s surprisingly robust and looks very cool thanks to the great animations, that’s for sure, but the whole Dunk Contest isn’t very intuitive.

It’s funny, bizarre and, at times, downright filthy, precisely the kinds of things I look for in my Japanese games. Unfortunately, it’s got other things I'm not so crazy about, like few sub-quests, constant random battles and excessive loading. But if you like your games sexy, this might be the perfect match.

What truly rocks is the game's affordability. Donkey Konga comes with one bongo accessory in a neat and tidy $50 package. What a sweet concept.

A fantastic conquest. The power of the game engine has finally caught up with the developer’s vision of what a war game should really be like, and what a cool vision that is. It’s almost like getting two games for the price of one...and you can even just play your favorite.

Leaves a fairly bland taste in the mouth. With its cool creature-catching concept and some field items that would make a Boy Scout proud, it sets a good table. Unfortunately, the poor control and lack of solo playability hinder it from catching the big one.

The developers took a bit of a short cut by relying on invisible walls to guide you through each level.

There’s really nothing else out there remotely like it, and if strange Japanese things are your bag, you simply cannot do any better than Katamari Damacy. It’s fun, weird and fabulous - a sickness certainly worth catching.

It’s almost unfortunate that the first couple hours of Second Sight are really good. You won’t care that the action is too easy or that the A.I. is dumber than Teddy Ruxpin because the plot is good and the characters are interesting. But by hour six or so, the plot loses its mystery and the gameplay holes become increasingly frustrating.

Ultimately, the dated feel, dumb enemies and repetitive gameplay leave you wanting more. The blood is decent and Osamu Tezuka tells a great story, but the will to play just isn't there.

Given a little patience, however, X-Men Legends will reward you with a good storyline and fun gameplay.

Given a little patience, however, X-Men Legends will reward you with a good storyline and fun gameplay.

Even though its brand of battlefield warfare is by no means new, it’s still plenty of fun and a must for Star Wars nerds. Just don’t be fooled by any claims that Battlefront contains a viable single-player experience. This is an online game, period, and if you can’t get online, then this isn’t the game you are looking for. Move along.

An extremely violent, bloody, foul-mouthed and visceral fighter filled with plenty of style. Unfortunately, good looks, a cool character creator and some sweet environments are commodities that lose their luster after several hours of play.

Dawn of War's tremendous unit design and the resulting balance makes for some addictive, tactical gameplay. The limited campaign isn’t very long, and, more importantly, isn’t very interesting, but crushing online foes and battling the computer is a blast.

While EA has been able to make some improvements to their franchise, they just haven’t done enough to keep up with the ice maniacs over at ESPN.

The new features are generally welcomed but don’t change the fact that this is largely the same game you probably spent way too much time with last year.

Even though its brand of battlefield warfare is by no means new, it’s still plenty of fun and a must for Star Wars nerds. Just don’t be fooled by any claims that Battlefront contains a viable single-player experience. This is an online game, period, and if you can’t get online, then this isn’t the game you are looking for. Move along.

An extremely violent, bloody, foul-mouthed and visceral fighter filled with plenty of style. Unfortunately, good looks, a cool character creator and some sweet environments are commodities that lose their luster after several hours of play.

But while EA has been able to make some improvements to their franchise, they just haven’t done enough to keep up with the ice maniacs over at ESPN.

The new features are generally welcomed but don’t change the fact that this is largely the same game you probably spent way too much time with last year.

The new features are generally welcomed but don’t change the fact that this is largely the same game you probably spent way too much time with last year.

While the control tweaks get props, the defensive A.I. has been cranked up a shade too much.

More of a refinement of the original game than an exciting new offering. While that’s not a bad thing, per se, it’s lacking the innovation that enticed people to play the game in first place.

You won’t want to invite the camera over for coffee or anything, as it can be quite unruly, occasionally getting stuck on terrain. The game also experiences some occasional slow-down and the very last battle seems a little unfinished. But make no mistake: Sly 2 is a great game.

The look, sound and feel of Call of Duty: United Offensive ooze quality and playability. Couple that with the $30 price tag and you wind up with a strong expansion. It might be short, but that should hardly prevent you from enlisting again.

While there are a few different ending sequences based on a combination of your alignment and one very large decision you make towards the end, you won't need to play through the whole thing again to see 'em because the game actually allows you to change alignment mid-stream by simply going to the good or evil church and making donations. Whoops!

The contrast between your deranged nightmare apartment and the seemingly normal world outside gives it an especially tense feeling of psychological terror and uncertainty.

With outstanding physics, an unmatched sense of speed and a wealth of game types, it easily blows the doors off the competition. And that’s all the realism I need.

Unsurprisingly, the Xbox version is a bit cleaner and sharper than the PS2 and has some more detailed textures. It's a noticeable difference, but not a big deal.

With outstanding physics, an unmatched sense of speed and a wealth of game types, it easily blows the doors off the competition. And that's all the realism I need.

The film came out a year ago and we’ve already endured one tragic game offering. This one is far better than that mess (which admittedly isn’t saying very much) and despite its fundamental flaws, the game delivers some decent fun.

The film came out a year ago and we've already endured one tragic game offering. This one is far better than that mess (which admittedly isn't saying very much) and despite its fundamental flaws, the game delivers some decent fun.

Tries to make advances in the import racing game scene with a big city and interesting reward system, but its lack of white-knuckle racing and true customization slows it down. All show and no go makes this a dull ride.

Occasionally seems bad in a good way thanks to some unintentionally funny B-movie schlock and ridiculous dialogue. But make no mistake- this is a bad game and isn’t worth your attention unless you simply must run around as a stripper and taser people.

It’s probably Capcom’s most disappointing offering to the fighting game genre since 1997’s dismal "Street Fighter Collection."

Simply steeped too deeply in old role-playing game conventions and standbys. Games like "Star Wars: KOTOR" have changed the landscape, while more similar titles like "Final Fantasy X" and "Xenosaga" have a better battle system and a more epic feel, respectively.

Tries to make advances in the import racing game scene with a big city and interesting reward system, but its lack of white-knuckle racing and true customization slows it down. All show and no go makes this a dull ride.

When you combine the depth of gameplay, breadth of modes and quality of delivery with the salary-cap friendly $19.99 price tag, it’s easy to see how ESPN NHL 2K5 stays on top of its division.

When you combine the depth of gameplay, breadth of modes and quality of delivery with the salary-cap friendly $19.99 price tag, it's easy to see how ESPN NHL 2K5 stays on top of its division.

Though it lacks much of the original's novelty value, Pikmin 2 is a solid sequel.

Delivers the blood, sweat and tears Gamecube wrestling fans have been waiting to digest. It might not offer much new to the wrestling genre, but a win is a win, right?

Unfortunately, the poorly designed mini-games and boring gameplay takes most of the joy out of creation, effectively dropping this fantasy land into the shallow end of the kiddie pool.

There is nothing cooler out for the PS2 right now. Viewtiful Joe is a singular game of incredible craftsmanship and provides a unique experience that no fan of the action genre should miss.

While Ghosthunter sets up a freaky scene, it never does much to distinguish itself from your average action game. There are no big scares and only mildly interesting action.

But in the grand scheme of things, this somewhat underwhelming series is falling farther behind the game currently atop golf's leaderboard, "Tiger Woods," and doesn’t look to be gaining any strokes.

It’s more of a novelty, a third-party candidate – you’ll like some of what it has to offer, but it’s still pretty much just wasting your vote.

It actually offers less new material than "ESPN NFL 2K5", which struck a chord with its VIP system and Weekly Prep. However, Madden’s gameplay is more consistent and more solid than ESPN’s, especially in terms of playbook depth and passing, and ultimately that’s what distinguishes the champ from the challenger.

It actually offers less new material than "ESPN NFL 2K5", which struck a chord with its VIP system and Weekly Prep. However, Madden's gameplay is more consistent and more solid than ESPN's, especially in terms of playbook depth and passing, and ultimately that's what distinguishes the champ from the challenger.

It actually offers less new material than ESPN NFL 2K5, which struck a chord with its VIP system and Weekly Prep. However, Madden’s gameplay is more consistent and more solid than ESPN’s, especially in terms of playbook depth and passing, and ultimately that’s what distinguishes the champ from the challenger.

Easily just as good as its progenitor, if not a bit more impressive with the better, stronger, faster online feature.

It’s hard to describe exactly what makes the game feel so intuitive, but when you combine the smooth control with the great scripting and chilling atmosphere, you get a fun, unique, visceral experience.

Though it does have some addictive qualities, Crimson Tears feels a little half-baked, a hodgepodge of different gaming styles crammed under one very confusing roof.

From its bad control to its bad design, this is the real reason god kills kittens.

It does a nice job offering a much cheaper alternative without sacrificing too much quality. It’s just a shame that the online play is broken, though I suppose you get what you pay for after all.

Another battle boo-boo is the inability to lock-on to an enemy while using the third-person melee characters. First-person shooting is no problem, but trying to face a specific enemy while running around with a big sword/claws is a chore.

From its bad control to its bad design, this is the real reason god kills kittens.

It does a nice job offering a much cheaper alternative without sacrificing too much quality. It's just a shame that the online play is broken, though I suppose you get what you pay for after all.

The worst of the three console versions available, due mainly to the absence of the terrific multiplayer found in the PS2 and Xbox builds. Still, there's enough single-player goodness here to entertain for a bit – just don't expect to be blown away.

From its bad control to its bad design, this is the real reason god kills kittens.

While other games do their damnedest to make first-person football work, NCAA Football 2005 has changed the playing field by tying the college atmosphere into the gameplay, leading to a smart, well-designed sequel.

While the PS2 version looks solid and runs smoothly, the Xbox version suffers from ugly framerate issues. Never mind the superior textures - during most plays the framerate will slow down a bit, while on running plays the pace practically drops to 15 fps.

Athens 2004 might be the least customizable sports game I’ve ever played. You can participate as any one of 64 countries, but you can’t create an athlete. There are no stats, no training, and no career. You pick your country and gender, and the game then just gives you a pre-set runner/jumper/thrower/swimmer who looks the part, ethnically speaking.

It’s a gateway game and the perfect hook for those American Idol hopefuls who know more about D notes than D-pads.

Unfortunately, even great length doesn't entirely offset the boring story arc and occasionally frustrating gameplay. The game seems intent just sticking to the dungeon/town/dungeon theme and tossing one fantasy RPG cliché after another at you, which does grow a little tiresome.

You have to commend Way of the Samurai 2 for trying something different, but its myriad design flaws, weak delivery and repetitive nature serve as a reminder that different doesn't necessarily mean fun.

The goal of any superhero game is to make you feel like the hero, and by that standard, Spider-Man 2 is unrivaled. That it also happens to be a fantastic action game is icing on the cake, a true treat for both fans of the webslinger and general gamers alike.

The goal of any superhero game is to make you feel like the hero, and by that standard, Spider-Man 2 is unrivaled. That it also happens to be a fantastic action game is icing on the cake, a true treat for both fans of the webslinger and general gamers alike.

The goal of any superhero game is to make you feel like the hero, and by that standard, Spider-Man 2 is unrivaled. That it also happens to be a fantastic action game is icing on the cake, a true treat for both fans of the webslinger and general gamers alike.

A snazzy tactical RTS that breathes some life into the genre without necessarily redefining it.

It serves up some decent arcade fun, but we've already been here before in the other Slugfest games, and the notable AI and control issues still need to be addressed.

The next Slugfest would be vastly improved if they ditched the attempt at Franchise authenticity and focused on fixing the mechanics and core baseball dynamics. Midway has some rules to learn before it breaks any more of them.

A train wreck from start to finish. There is no balance. There is no stability. If the engine was an automobile, it would be a Yugo. Truly the only benefit of its existence is as a reminder that we are lucky to have such excellent alternatives.

Though the series is pretty much stale these days, that wasn’t always the case, and the Mega Man Anniversary Collection serves as a reminder that while the games might feel a little dated, the Blue Bomber still has some fight left.

Though the series is pretty much stale these days, that wasn’t always the case, and the Mega Man Anniversary Collection serves as a reminder that while the games might feel a little dated, the Blue Bomber still has some fight left.

It’s astonishing that a series with such unlimited potential has turned into such a farce, but I guess that’s what happens when you drive blindly without taking to the time to ask for directions. As is usually the case, that leads to a dead-end street.

It's astonishing that a series with such unlimited potential has turned into such a farce, but I guess that's what happens when you drive blindly without taking to the time to ask for directions. As is usually the case, that leads to a dead-end street.

Although Pandora Tomorrow’s single-player game is hurt by the PS2’s hardware limitations, it still represents an excellent stealth experience coupled with one of the best multiplayer modes around.

Currently the best of its kind with great graphics, a wealth of weapons and vehicles and solid play mechanics. Fans of online military fragging need look no further.

There is no reason to buy or rent this tragic mess of code, and while it’s not the end of the world, it’s damn close. Evil indeed.

Many of the right elements are in play – lots of bad guys, decent graphics, online functionality - but it seems Shadow Ops: Red Mercury is merely following an old recipe without adding the proper seasoning to spice things up. The result is just a shadow of the competition.

A solid action game made better by some awesome, well-implemented powers and a sweet physics engine. While the glitches and design problems hold it back significantly, this is still a daydream well worth taking.

A solid action game made better by some awesome, well-implemented powers and a sweet physics engine. While the glitches and design problems hold it back significantly, this is still a daydream well worth taking.

You get a measly two camera angles from the start, and you’ll get more only after winning Grand Slam events, if you can believe that.

There's no question that The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures handily trumps "Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles" as the best example of Nintendo's connectivity plan and serves up some fun multiplayer gaming.

Lets fans romp through a digital version of the film and offers some decent gameplay along the way, but it doesn’t do much else. Provided that’s all you expect from a licensed game, you won’t be entirely disappointed.

Compared to the PS2's EyeToy games and the Gamecube's GBA connectivity option, the Xbox version got shafted for extras.

The Gamecube version of Prisoner of Azkaban features a few mini-games that can be played as bonus activities as well as the ability to hook up a GBA and take care of a pet owl, which is not very fun. Compared to the PS2's EyeToy games, the extras here are pretty thin.

While the graphics and overall presentation rock, the gameplay is hampered by a lack of depth, length and intricate strategy, leaving this warrior a few medals shy of the full spectrum.