Some of the missions prove incredibly difficult, especially when players need to defend a position against overwhelming odds, but the fast-paced battles and great multiplayer features make it all worthwhile.

The motion controls end up mixed between good and bad items and the multiplayer falls short in comparison to the heavily-loaded competition on other machines. At least it wasn't another "Far Cry Vengeance."

Sure, uploading tokens to one's Pogo.com account is a great idea, and wireless competition against friends will keep people busy, the product feels disappointingly limited. Good for rabid Pogo fans, but everyone else should stick to meatier products, most notably Nintendo's "Clubhouse Games."

With expansive lands and quests, the Shivering Isles brings forth a landscape that adds further dimension to the already impressive world of Oblivion. Players can find much sadistic joy in going mad.

With expansive lands and quests, the Shivering Isles brings forth a landscape that adds further dimension to the already impressive world of Oblivion. Players can find much sadistic joy in going mad.

Not a fast-paced shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. appeals to a deeper sense of survival, in which players scrounge for valuables and information in a world gone twisted.

Without strong strategic elements, an enemy AI with back-bone, a solid presentation, or any idea of pacing (or fun for that matter), Steel Horizon merely sputters around in a sea of its own monotony. Go play Advance Wars instead and leave this on the shelf.

Microsoft fans win the console pissing contest by default, thanks to Xbox Live. The 360 includes online play. The PlayStation 3 version doesn't, a puzzling decision that gives Sony's opponents one more thing to complain about.

Genesis Rising presents many great ideas, but not enough attention was placed on unit management.

Forced switching between two playable characters proves annoying due to their differing abilities, the fixed camera restricts the player's view and the voice samples of party members still repeat with infuriating frequency.

The single-player missions don't take long to beat and the game's multiplayer lacks depth. Armored Core 4 should keep robot lovers busy, but it failed to improve nearly as much as expected.

Oblivion for PS3 still contains a few annoying visual glitches and the occasional slowdown, but these problems seem negligible compared to the game's grand scale and mesmerizing storyline.

It could've used additional multiplayer options and the overused rock music gets old. Past that, the game play, graphics, customization features and humorous touches from Planet Moon (like a flying cow) make this a game PSP owners should gun for.

Unfortunately, perfecting one's craft requires much trial and error, thanks to the game's shoddy motion controls. Things work ok most of the time, but like the DS version, every once and a while the game fails to register the simplest of actions.

Sure, the puzzle format looks like the classic PDA/online/cell phone favorite, but 1st Playable Productions has wisely blended in some RPG components, which rewards gamers with an incredibly deep experience.

Its skill tree, with powers dependent on the levels of other abilities, provides an innovative approach even though it can be viewed as limiting from a certain perspective.

Even with the frame rate hiccups and the lack of online support, Earth Defense Force 2017 succeeds tremendously, thanks to its devastation and non-stop action. This piece of sci-fi cheesy goodness fits right in with Microsoft's meatier games -- very appetizing.

Even without the flashy visuals, The Godfather: Blackhand Edition represents the best Godfather game yet, thanks to the wealth of new content and improved controls. W'd recommended the game to newcomers as well as Godfather veterans.

Although the game provides mild amusement, thanks to well-designed stages and different types of marbles, it only takes a few hours to beat.. Its lack of difficulty combined with limited modes keep it from justifying its $39.99 price.

TMNT comes with a turtle shell full of problems, yet the game still has appeal buried beneath them.

To the disappointment of many, TMNT does not offer any multiplayer features, so turtles cannot spar against each other or fight cooperatively with everyone on screen at once. Instead, it seems intent on rushing players through, with replay value coming from going over old missions for better scores -- hardly a compelling incentive, and one that will lead most players to let this one disappear back into the sewers.

The Wii Remote's control scheme does okay work, although the lack of configuration options damages the appeal. Even worse, the haphazard missions irritate, particularly the lame formation stages.

Baseball Mogul 2008 hits a homer for gamers who sit in the stands with a scorecard and keep track of every foul ball. However, unless they're part of that very specific group, which there are legions, this baseball sim will likely be as much fun as watching the infield grass grow.

In a surprise twist, the Game Boy Advance TMNT is vastly superior to its mediocre console counterpart. Instead of shoehorning the same adventure onto the limited GBA, Ubisoft created an entirely new game, one based on the classic, side scrolling Turtles games from the NES and SNES days.

A likable (if not quite memorable) game for the Nintendo DS. The presentation could've use a little sprucing up and some parts of the story stretch on for way too long (such as the school segments).

Great Invasions offers a great tribute to retelling history, offers loads of options, but its almost unavoidable complexity leaves it unapproachable to all but the most determined history and strategy fans.

Sony's masterpiece, God of War II, not only trumps its prequel, but also redefines the action adventure genre...Not only does it cement the PS2's amazing legacy, it delivers one of the best gaming experiences in the video game history.

Graphic flaws aside, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 serves up an adequate game of golf. The course selection, respectable number of modes and solid game play make it worth a rental.

The game's complex interface (composed primarily of a series of menus) makes it unapproachable to many people. Its slow pace gets exacerbated by the fact that cities can either produce or research, not both.

While the multiplayer mode limits the action to AdHoc sessions, the single player campaign feels just as robust as the console games. The controls feel great, and the presentation shows outstanding potential.

The fast-paced and challenging gameplay is difficult to resist.

Too bad the slow-as-molasses combat (and too-savvy computer-controlled opponents) keep this fighter from rivaling classics like "Tekken," "Street Fighter" and "Soul Calibur," but the innovative use of music, as both an aesthetic and a weapon, adds depth.

Too bad the slow-as-molasses combat (and too-savvy computer-controlled opponents) keep this fighter from rivaling classics like "Tekken," "Street Fighter" and "Soul Calibur," but the innovative use of music, as both an aesthetic and a weapon, adds depth.

For the first time since taking over publishing duties for the series, Electronic Arts has released a Burnout racing game that fails to achieve must buy status.

Ubisoft and Red Storm Entertainment concocted a short yet satisfying single player campaign full of action, weapons and cool vehicles. It ends much too quickly, but the game's robust multiplayer component more than makes up for that, thanks to 16 player support, new maps, weapons and deep customization.

Wario: Master of Disguise could have been a huge leap forward for Nintendo's anti-hero. Instead, it ends up as a low-grade, tiresome platformer, knocking the series almost completely off course.

The graphics show clear signs of being rushed and Rockstar removed the multiplayer modes.

It has something for everyone, including new players and those who simply want to raise their characters to the new level cap.

With a rousing, pulp fiction style story that seamlessly intertwines Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's world famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, into H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos, a slew of incredibly shrewd and logical puzzles and a surprisingly beautiful game world to explore, players get a mature, immersive experience that will have them begging for more adventures like this one.

The button mashing game play bears a resemblance to Koei's Dynasty Warriors series, but with poorly applied phalanx and stealth segments thrown on top. The graphics look shoddy, particularly with the constant barrage of arrows and sloppy animation.

Lumines Plus retains its predecessor's addictive play on the PlayStation 2; providing excellent replay value, featuring numerous unlockable skins and two-player action guaranteed to wear out the ol' Dual Shock 2 controllers.

Featuring a couple of new modes that are sure to intrigue fans and newcomers alike, as well as online support through song packs and online match-ups, this Universe is looking to be rather limitless...if you have dancing shoes, that is.

F1 Championship Edition will only disappoint those expecting a quick and easy ride. The game was built to challenge throughout each lap, with a demanding Career Mode and its uphill learning curve. On the other hand, those who want something more out of their racing games should find it a valuable investment.

Bullet Witch looks and feels like a by the numbers shooter.

No online play hurts, and the two-player split screen mode offers limited enjoyment, but overall, EA successfully "blurs" the line between realism and fantasy, creating a great video game for all ages.

Changing seasons provide great visuals for the passage of time, as sims grow up and mature. The effect is subtle, but it makes raising a sim family a more enjoyable and memorable experience.

The game looks dated on the PC, but it offers people a different kind of adventure, one not centered on first person shooting or real time strategy.

Pitching, hitting and fielding mechanics work beautifully, and the presentation, while not stellar, captures the essence of major league baseball. Until the PlayStation 3 version comes along, this Show shouldn't be missed.

Although some minor bugs pop up, the game captures the essence of baseball.

While the previous episode felt considerably shorter than most, this new one gets things back on track with more one-liners and some great political humor -- especially as Max becomes president of the United States.

While the $7.99 asking price feels excessive for a game that offers little content versus other downloadable games, flOw deserves to be experienced, thanks to its dreamy visuals, angelic soundtrack and addictive play.

Maelstrom had great potential to be a strong strategy game, but the bugs make it far too frustrating. The developers should have programmed a fourth faction, the Earth itself, to swallow up the Remnants, Ascension and Hai-Genti, because none of them have the brains to inherit this world.

Even without PlayStation Network support, Virtua Fighter 5 deserves a place in every fighting fan's library. Not only does it provide hours of fun, but also the presentation finally gives PS3 owners something to "ooh" and "ahh" about.

Sega delivers inaccurate Wii controls, ridiculous objectives and a bad guy named Erazor. On top of that, it somehow screws up fixed camera angles while attempting to convince the gaming public that a group of rampaging triceratops runs faster than Sonic.

Unpolished targeting mechanics lead to unfortunate deaths, but leaping across buildings Matrix style while shooting heads gets the adrenaline flowing; a guilty pleasure indeed.

Homecourt gets old after a while since it lacks the options found in the more robust "NBA 2K7," but players will delight in its light hearted take on basketball. Its theatrics, coupled with its gorgeous visuals, make it a fine addition to everyone's collection.

Supreme Commander makes everything as big as possible, from base-ending nuclear weapons, to larger-than-life experimental units destroying everything in their path.

Alien Shooter may be a one-trick pony, but its mindlessly addictive game play makes it oddly compelling.

Dark Avatar still suffers from a few minor issues present in the original game, like non-allied aliens setting up colonies inside a rival faction's solar system without fear of repercussions. However, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

The combination of a loaded single player campaign with an entertaining multiplayer mode makes Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters an excellent addition to the PSP library.

The game purposely lacks the depth found in 2K Sports' NBA 2K7, making it ideal for kids and parents. Everyone else should stick to more option heavy basketball games.

What The Warriors lacks in new content, it more than makes up for with intense brawling, decent multiplayer options and a presentation that matches the film's tone.

While introducing the finer points of the Nintendo Wii remote through mini-games like billiards and a cattle-racing game, all of them come up short in replay value, even with the ability to compete against a friend.

No matter how delightful main character Parin and her amusing dialog, dull combat amounts to little more than frequent taps of X and most gamers will breeze through the simple puzzles.

"Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo," with its various modes and options, makes this well worth the $30. Challenging a friend in AdHoc never gets old, whether shooting bubbles into nothingness or dropping mad block combos to clear the screen in a devastating manner.

Despite the fact that the game comes to an end quicker than expected, fans of Kojima's work and action/RPG games should pick it up without hesitation. Lunar Knights shines brightly... even without the power of the sun.

Potential players don't need to fear it sucking away hours of their lives (although it still might), but they can look forward to an excellent game with some very amusing stories to tell.

The whole collection theme grows tiring, with players having to repeat races to find items to proceed. The DS-exclusive enhancements don't help either, and end up being pointless.

One of the Game Boy Advance's last role-playing games, Final Fantasy VI Advance also proves one of its best.

People willing to put in the effort will certainly be rewarded, since each level in every mode feels like a major accomplishment. Vanguard, with vast opportunities and size, requires time to grow on players. Patient gamers who enjoy tons of options will find many riches and glory here.

In the grand scheme of role-playing games, the story turns out rather conventional, but the large variety of content and game play should cement Rogue Galaxy's place in the collections of those seeking a lengthy, fulfilling adventure.

Wrought with visual glitches and pre-existing issues with poor camera angles, the mixture of zippy running missions grows tedious at near-Sonic speed, with limited control and boring exploration sequences. This one hits a brick wall, for sure.

Fans of the original Fuzion Frenzy and other party games may want to give this a rent. Everyone else will probably take part in a contest to see who can return it to the game store the fastest.

Unlike previous episodes, this one doesn't have as many pointed one-liners or gags, but it remains amusing nonetheless, much like a mid-season television show.

The beautifully sketched graphics give Room 215 a unique style. Although the game grows tedious, thanks to what seems like endless, scrolling text, surprises pop up every few minutes that further the plot. Definitely play this game.

One of the PSP's best games. The depth of this adventure will keep gamers enthralled for hours. Be it sword fighting, scoring hidden treasure or engaging in a massive multiplayer ship battle, the discoveries here add up significantly.

By dodging most of its NBA Live pitfalls, the company created a solid basketball game that does tremendous things for the sports genre, yet still fails to best the competition.

Any level 60 player has no reason not to achieve level 70, and anyone who bought their epic mount has no reason not to have a flying mount as well. Basically, if World of Warcraft feels right, so will Burning Crusade.

The few tweaks to the mechanics provide a better experience, complete with the tricky puzzles and amusing dialog that make the original so notable. [JPN Import]

In comparing Smooth Moves to the rest of the WarioWare video games, the Game Boy Advance edition, "Twisted!," remains Nintendo's greatest achievement, thanks to spot on controls as well as a host of unlockable content. Despite this, Smooth Moves stands out as a fine addition to the series as well as a must play for all Wii owners.

The game has plenty of quality moments, ranging from battles with humongous aliens to beautiful scenery and animation. Unfortunately, sloppy controls and a boring multiplayer mode keep Lost Planet from dominating the Xbox 360.

The Shield's graphics look average and it brings nothing new to the action adventure genre, but the foul language and story should entertain people like a trashy novel. While not especially well conceived, people will always crave the next, ridiculous scene.

Hitting numerous switches, pushing blocks and battling easy opponents gets old fast. Arthur's definitely better than most movie licensed video games, but not by much.

As for breeding a Mui Mui, it never becomes a worthwhile activity. With just a little more effort in the mini-game design, this Arthur and the Invisibles game would have been worth a look.

A great game for any fan of Yu-Gi-Oh!, yet numerous shortcomings, including the lack of an interactive tutorial, leave little redeeming value for those outside that fan base.

Sam & Max never claimed subtlety, and this episode throws in a clear clue for future journeys. Audiences simply need to stay tuned for the next episode to see what zany adventures come down the line.

Legacy features tedious controls and frustrating missions. The multiplayer and skirmish modes do little to make these space battles better.

One of the Wii's worst games, an underdeveloped mess that will turn off most of its players by the middle – or possibly even the beginning -- of level one. Ubisoft attempted some innovative control techniques, but most of them feel awful-- even doing simple things like jumping and lobbing grenades sucks.

It's nice to see a return of simple-yet-gratifying combat, but these issues prevent Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy from hitting the heights of the genre's heyday.

The cartoony look might turn off mainstream sports gamers, but anyone who can stomach it will be treated to the best -- and most challenging -- round of Wii golf yet.

Even without the Wii's motion controls and an orchestrated soundtrack, Zelda succeeds with an ambitious quest that rivals "Ocarina of Time" and a control scheme that players will love.

Unfortunately, the destruction seems a bit random, not really taking advantage of the power of PlayStation 3, but the game offers mindless fun that's worth experiencing.

Lethal Alliance feels outdated, thanks to boring missions and a lame two-player Ad Hoc battle mode. Furthermore, the haphazard targeting system and ghosting certainly don't help matters.

The game has long loading times, collision detection and some displaced momentum. But the end result hits with all the authority of a steel chair to the face.

The two-character system is magnificent and very easy to get into, and the presentation makes proper use of the DS.

The PSP's inability to match the functionality of the PlayStation 2's Dual Shock controller causes some problems and the degree of control accomplished by developer Kojima Productions under the circumstances speaks volumes of their expertise, but the results aren't perfect.

Jabs, haymakers and devastating knockouts have never looked so vicious, thanks to wicked damage modeling and photorealistic player models of 28 boxing greats, such as Muhammad Ali, Bernard Hopkins and Evander Holyfield.

Thanks to the superior handling of the PlayStation 2 analog stick over the PSP's analog nub, the controls have improved. Multiplayer remains elusive, but this Mercury remains a smooth piece of work.