While The Conduit didn't thrill us, we still think it's a solid first effort and one of the Wii's best shooters so far. Just don't expect it to revolutionize anything and you'll enjoy the bug hunt.

There are three excellent control options available for both old-school players and precision shooters. They work most of the time, although realism takes a back seat with the excessive checking and occasionally dumbfounded artificial intelligence.

NASCAR 09 doesn't change the pace of the popular motor sport racing series. However, EA Sports deserves praise for the inclusion of two handling styles, Pro and Normal, which make the game more playable than previous releases.

While not a deep or especially polished adventure, it'll keep you entertained for a weekend.

Some of the games are marred by slowdown and problematic load times, and the lack of certain fan favorites (like Super Baseball 2020 and Viewpoint) is questionable. Still, for $20, these Arcade Classics aren't too shabby.

The presentation is excellent (for the most part) and the online functionality is an astonishing add-on, letting you compete against others in various activities.

While online play is acceptable, the game does have a number of unlockable achievements, but players can experience all of that over a weekend.

Sega's Ghost Squad takes less than an hour to beat and features plenty of insignificant extras. But instead of overcharging you, the company budget priced its arcade shooter $30, $10 more that it's worth.

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.

While the graphics needed more polish and the load times occasionally interrupt the flow of battle, R-Type Command presents an intense challenge with plenty of sci-fi flair that should satisfy most gamers.

Unless you're a fan, this average RPG has little to offer.

Sure, it's not the deepest of shooters, but for $10, you could do a lot worse than 1942.

Freestyle Street Basketball's low cost makes it an appealing option for people who crave easy, fast-paced competition. In addition, it lacks the complex controls found in more expensive sports games, and costs just $19.99.

EA's latest Need For Speed effort on Wii would've benefited from online play and several more tracks and cars. As it stands, however, Nitro is an enthralling racing game, with plenty of rubber-burning action for you and your friends.

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.

Getting knocked down proves disorientating, the lack of quick weapon switching sucks and the game's weapons aren't nearly as imaginative as the ones from previous Turok games. Multiplayer adds value, but not enough to make this one a keeper.

Sure, it has annoying glitches, the cheap artificial intelligence will piss you off and Sony's God of War plays ten times better, but you don't play Conan for enlightenment or for a lesson in quality game design. You play because you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and because sometimes, it feels good to rip a fake person's arms off.

Doesn't play nearly as well as its predecessor. With a significant drop in visual fidelity as well as a reduction in the number of people in online matches (from 32 to 16), things just aren't as exciting.

A major improvement on the formula first introduced in 2005 with "Mario Superstar Baseball" on the GameCube.

An above-average dancing affair for the Wii that delivers familiar graphics, forgettable songs and no online options. If you liked the original, you might dig this one, but it's not worth our time.

It's fun, but this Crash is in serious need of an overhaul.

Sure, it has annoying glitches, the cheap artificial intelligence will piss you off and Sony's God of War plays ten times better, but you don't play Conan for enlightenment or for a lesson in quality game design. You play because you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and because sometimes, it feels good to rip a fake person's arms off.

While the song list is acceptable, with awesome tunes (including Marvin Gaye and Coldplay) there are definitely some clunkers mixed in (KT Tunstall and Elton John).

A barebones rhythm game that focuses more on visuals than it does on outstanding music, which should always come first in this genre. Downloadable content in the future will help, but unless it offers better music or a significantly different game mode, only the diehard rhythm gamers will care.

The card battling system works, although not as well as it did on the GBA. Sadly, this re-imagining has come a bit too late for a series ready for its PS3 debut.

This game has no shortage of creative options, as players create their own dream town from scratch with imaginative building designs and all kinds of oddball characters. However, its easygoing nature leaves a bit to be desired as far as dangers and comical situations go.

If Joint Task Force is remembered years from now, it will be because it has a really good theme, with some nice ideas, but overall bad execution. That is, unless people are far more distracted by the bad voice acting.

A Rookie mode simplifies the controls for beginners (don't worry, you still have Advanced controls) and there's Franchise mode and the Madden Moments from the console editions (called Superstar Challenge), but the on-field action looks and sounds too similar to last year's game.

The glorious presentation includes realistic animations, arenas that resemble their real-life counterparts and impressive audio commentary from Dick Vitale ("It's awesome, bay-bee!"), Brad Nessler and Erin Andrews.

So while Crossbow Training isn't a deep experience (it really needs online leader boards), it's addictive and justifies buying the Zapper.

Sure, it's not the deepest of shooters, but for $10, you could do a lot worse than 1942.

Dark Legend attractive visuals often force the action to chug, an overabundance of minions makes the game far too easy and at times incompetent artificial intelligence forces you to reissue the same commands to brain dead minions. If you can deal with those issues, then you'll probably enjoy this dark and destructive adventure.

Its story makes us sleepy, but the hack-and-slash fighting has us hooked. Highly recommended.

Blurry textures, an average story and Peter Parker's voice gets on our nerves, but overall, Web of Shadows is a cool Spider-Man adventure and much better than the horrid "Spider-Man 3."

No, it won't topple EA's Madden franchise, but this Blitz is worth playing if you want a smash mouth football game with mature issues.

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.

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.

Even worse, the game's not much fun to play. Each of the six episodes have a series of chapters full of unclear mission objectives; most times, Capcom doesn't give you hints on what to do next, so instead of making progress, you fumble around repeatedly blasting the same monster and/or revisiting the same old areas hoping for some clue, anything, to stand out.

Sloppy combat and an over reliance on cut scenes ruins the game. RPG-starved Wii fans might have a good time, but they're probably better served by revisiting the superior GameCube prequel.

The game is simple to play, but unfortunately nearly impossible to master, due to the overwhelming amount of swirling colors on the screen.

Offers a few hours of decent shooting at $10 less than the average Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 video game.

Even worse, the game's not much fun to play. Each of the six episodes have a series of chapters full of unclear mission objectives; most times, Capcom doesn't give you hints on what to do next, so instead of making progress, you fumble around repeatedly blasting the same monster and/or revisiting the same old areas hoping for some clue, anything, to stand out.

Viking's a decent game, thanks to over the top combat moves and a sprawling fantasy world, but its lack of drama and a few design issues make it inferior to Sony's exquisite "God of War" franchise.

Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia feels like an expansion to the previous game. Its graphics and audio haven't changed, still immersing the player in a bland Pokemon universe.

The result is a game that looks great, ends well, but at times, leans too heavily on formulaic game mechanics.

The fancy technology powering the experience is impressive, as is the performance by actors who lent their voices and likenesses to the game's pivotal characters. That's mixed with rote game mechanics -- hack, slash, fight big boss, level ends -- that can easily grow tiresome, and a leveling up system that's more distraction than a way to create a customized character.

There are more than enough brainteasers to keep you unlocking new ones, but it's aesthetically sterile and only fun if you play it for a few mere minutes a day.

Whoever was in charge of programming the AI fell asleep at the wheel. The computer is at time[s] such an unholy bastard that playing against it makes me want slam my PSP against a wall. The AI will do whatever is necessary to make sure that you lose.

The game's presentation is on par with the comic book series, but the characters aren't well balanced. Furthermore, only certain skills can be upgraded, and the rest of the game contains the same old beat-em-up formula that's been around for ages.

It needed more minigames and a livelier presentation, but gamers will enjoy the multiplayer options and gameplay innovations.

While it contains some cool features in the form of three unique play styles and finely tuned audio, the game's timing is almost completely off, even with such simplicities as a serve or a ball return. The visuals also took a step backward.

The Wii remote and Nunchuk don't work as well as we hoped, which makes beating the game on a harder difficulty a chore. Once you get past this hiccup, however, Samba will keep you shaking.

Ninja Blade's presentation trumps the actual combat. Excessive quick time events result in lots of trial and error, the game chugs along during certain boss fights and monsters have a nasty habit of scoring cheap hits that often put players at a disadvantage.

Its mini-games and four-player action (local only, no online) are somewhat cool, but the lack of a player customization tool and a Career Mode send it out of bounds.

Offers a few hours of decent shooting at $10 less than the average Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 video game.

It's not every day that Square Enix releases a game for Xbox 360, so we expected Infinite Undiscovery to be an original and exciting action RPG. What we received is a boring, by-the-numbers adventure that once again casts us as a weak and at times clueless young boy that must destroy evil.

SNK faithfully restored each game, and while the lack of extras hurts, we wholeheartedly recommend it.

While it lacks flashy presentation and over-the-top action, as previously seen with EA Sports Big's SSX Blur, it makes up for the negatives with precise controls that feel like you're actually skiing.

The slowdown and overall visual fuzziness leave it looking unattractive and barren compared to the Xbox 360 version; the controls are sorely lacking; the requirement of 5 GB hard drive space to install the game is ridiculous; and the multiplayer is uneventful.

The graphics are cheery and hilarious, with the Rabbids stealing the show from Rayman. The Wi-Fi Connection function is a nice touch, though it lacks online multiplayer. Invite these Rabbids to your next holiday party.

The events don't show much diversity, outside of a few creative "dream" events. Worse yet, the controls are haphazard, sometimes reading perfectly and other times barely registering. As a result, it earns a bronze metal, at best.

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

While this game attempts to break new ground, it failed to hold our interest[].

Blurry textures, an average story and Peter Parker's voice gets on our nerves, but overall, Web of Shadows is a cool Spider-Man adventure and much better than the horrid "Spider-Man 3."

Sadly, that sums up all the new content. Players can beat it within an hour and never play it again.

This bland online shooter (no single player element exists) offers only a handful of maps and no map editor. While the game's is based upon an entrenched role-playing game, not a single role-playing element exists.

If it wanted to make an impact, the company should've re-mastered the game, similar to what it did with Final Fantasy III on the DS, removing the 2-D visuals in exchange for 3-D graphics. With that being said, this Final Fantasy offers an overpriced but enjoyable experience. The lower the gamer's expectations, the better.

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.

We love the online play, Superstar moves and homage to Sega games like Sonic, The House of the Dead, Samba de Amigo and Jet Set Radio. It's fan service all the way. But the lack of a World Tour mode and ease of difficulty cripples the game's long-term appeal.

Somewhere within SimCity Creator is an ambitious idea, befuddled by a lacking control scheme and irritating features.

Most of the game is flat, due to monotonous tasks (hitting rocks and trees, going back for items) and bland fighting controls. The multiplayer action is solid and the presentation is true to the show, but this Adventure is too limited.

It's a fun single player adventure with an equally entertaining multiplayer mode full of 16 player death matches. Although its graphics look dated, monotony quickly sets in as shooting the same bad guys and completing similar missions gets old. That said, The Godfather II makes for an ideal weekend rental.

It's a daunting video game, one that lacks a tutorial mode and assumes you know something about coaching, but if you consider yourself the next Bill Belichick (without the spying), NFL Head Coach 09 is an essential purchase and a good companion to the upcoming season.

With thousands of questions across six categories, and the option to purchase downloadable packs on the cheap, this version of Trivial Pursuit won't get old anytime soon. You'll love the game's format, thanks to a multiple-choice set-up, jumping player pieces and single and multiplayer modes.

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.

This collection has a few dull spots, particularly with some lame gameplay options that make it more boring than expected. It's nice having classic games on the DS, but this is not the best Namco Museum out there.

We love the online play, Superstar moves and homage to Sega games like Sonic, The House of the Dead, Samba de Amigo and Jet Set Radio. It's fan service all the way. But the lack of a World Tour mode and ease of difficulty cripples the game's long-term appeal.

It suffers from a couple glitches, but this is without question EA's greatest Harry Potter, as well as one of its best movie-based games.

With levels and controls akin to Marble Madness, as well as slick platforming elements and a refreshing combat mode, Dewy's Adventure will satisfy the kid in you, while maintaining an environmentally conscious message without being overly preachy.

It's not cool getting all the way to the end of a dish and losing because of some tech failure. But for the most part, things work quite well, and Cooking Mama is a steal at $19.99.

Strategic word puzzling personified, with tons of activities to complete. What it lacks in frills, it more than makes up in substance, which is something that can't normally be said for a $20 piece of software. It's good stuff.

The new gameplay features, particularly Total Pitch Control, are great, and the franchise and online modes will appeal to baseball fanatics. The graphics and sound could've been better.

The developers do a crappy job filling in the story's gaps, and much of the gameplay relies on trial and error, which leads to tons of unnecessary deaths.

It comes up dreadfully short in content, with no single-player campaign and only a handful of maps.

Although the action's decent and the games have a somewhat scary edge (thanks to Alma, a homicidal, ghostly little girl), neither held our interests for very long. Despite a handful of new enemies and weapons, you repeatedly slaughter the same foes, and the 2005 quality visuals can't compete with the 360's recent shooters, namely Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4.

Adults will probably grow bored within an hour, and paying $59.99 for the bundle (with no option to purchase the game by itself) feels expensive, but N-Strike will appeal to kiddies as well as parents who don't want their children firing real darts in their homes.

But if shooter enthusiasts own a powerful gaming rig, they will not be disappointed, with a $39.99 price tag (a full $20 cheaper then the X360 version) thrown in for good measure.

Packed with high-speed chases, car combat (you can bump rivals into walls) and ridiculous explosions, the game's still far from perfect. Sloppy looking characters, excessive loading and average on-foot shooting keep it several steps behind the competition. As a rental, however, Wheelman offers some decent thrills.

The game has balancing issues. Some characters have the advantage of using Special Double Assaults, while others hit a hell of a lot harder than others. The modes are lacking, too. Beyond that, though, this is a reasonable – and fun – fighting game for $20.

With thousands of questions across six categories, and the option to purchase downloadable packs on the cheap, this version of Trivial Pursuit won't get old anytime soon. You'll love the game's format, thanks to a multiple-choice set-up, jumping player pieces and single and multiplayer modes.

While not a deep or especially polished adventure, it'll keep you entertained for a weekend.

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.

Although you can beat both games in a matter of hours, their pick up and play nature makes them worth revisiting several times. Sega should have included the original, but for $29.99, we'll let it slide.

Its control scheme is admirable, and while not technically impressive, there is plenty of content to warrant a purchase if you can see past its flaws.

While EA did a poor job fleshing out the story, some of the sound-alikes aren't nearly as good as the film's cast (Snape doesn't even sound close) and a few facial animations look bizarre, but for the most part, Half-Blood Prince is one of the best Harry Potter games we've played.

Hardcore hockey fans might find NHL Arcade too simple, with its lack of official teams, arenas or any kind of tournament mode. However, it's loads of fun against friends, online or off.

This game offers a beautiful, highly stylized, world to explore, but sacrifices meaningful interaction.

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.