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.