Even though it's not a wholly fresh experience, Kingdom Hearts: Re:Chain of Memories is definitely worth a try, especially if you didn't play the original GBA release.

Minor issues aside, this is a very fun title. Leaderboards, trying to beat your personal best times, and some unlockable bonus levels do add some replay value, and clever features (free look mode, the blob itself has a high cuteness factor) give the game some charm. If you're looking for a fun and breezy diversion, and an excuse to brush up on your knowledge of the periodic table, Mercury Hg is worth a look.

Once you get the hang of the units (which takes an extra-long time) and the tricky camera, Ground Control II can be relentless, fast, and furious fun.

It isn't perfect, but Alan Wake is a superb mystery that has plenty to offer. Gamers willing to put up with the minor inconsistencies will be rewarded with a rich narrative that's definitely worth experiencing.

It's somehow not quite as fun as "Gettysburg."

Minor issues aside, this is a very fun title. Leaderboards, trying to beat your personal best times, and some unlockable bonus levels do add some replay value, and clever features (free look mode, the blob itself has a high cuteness factor) give the game some charm. If you're looking for a fun and breezy diversion, and an excuse to brush up on your knowledge of the periodic table, Mercury Hg is worth a look.

Despite these minor gripes about the camera and the game's A.I., Treasure of the Sorcerer King is a good gaming experience and an exhilarating encounter for any fan of Lupin the Third. [Mar 2004, p.64]

MVP retains the Gold Glove for controls, but the competition has made up ground. [Apr 2005, p.97]

The voice-acting is noteworthy, but there are some just rudimentary audio effects and the music is sometimes dramatic, sometimes just unexciting...Good, basic RPG fare.

If you're considering purchasing NightFire, make sure you have at least three friends or you'll miss out on the lasting appeal of a Bond game that can actually stand up against its N64 predecessor.

With its martial arts action, Kung Fu Chaos is a bit like "Mario Party" with a mean streak.

While not a full-blown current generation reboot, Boulder Dash-XL is an enjoyable ride that's well worth your time. A cute game with plenty of content and puzzles to explore, this is a title that proves once again that solid gameplay is timeless.

But the key is gameplay and control, and that's where Fever’s a little rough around the edges.

You can find most of Asphalt 6: Adrenaline's content in plenty of other racing games. Still, you rarely see all of the content that Adrenaline offers in one game. You also rarely see all that content performing well together. It's definitely one of the better iPhone racing games out there.

It doesn’t deserve starter status because its competition has a bigger head start with their titles, but it’s definitely a big step in the right direction.

This port of the PlayStation classic is easily the most beautiful looking game in the GBA launch lineup, with huge, colorful, and astonishingly well-animated characters and backgrounds.

A solid multiplayer offering, gore aplenty, a low price point, and general undead silliness make Zombie Apocalypse a fun diversion.

Besides strong production values, the game showcases some of the most amazing physics seen on a console-nearly every object and person can be levitated, pushed, pulled, thrown, mind-controlled, and set on fire, while fantastic controls make you almost feel like you're really doing it.

Despite its quirks and graphics that fall short of the original's, Naval Ops: Commander packs enough firepower to keep fans of the series stoked. Nonfans, however, may quickly get left in its wake. [May 2004, p.65]

Team Fortress 2 addicts should definitely enjoy the very obvious similarities at work here, while the average gamer will probably appreciate the genuinely unique atmosphere that Monday Night Combat brings to the stage.

Like "Mario Party," "Bomberman," and "Super Smash Bros." before it, the amusement level in this ridiculous frenzy increases exponentially with the number of people in the room.

Besides the creative use of the DS touchpad, Capcom did a great job translating the cartoonish style of the Viewtiful Joe franchise onto the Nintendo handheld.

It's a triumph of mood and psychological tension, and devoted fans will find a great deal to excite them. But they're also bound to be disappointed by its reliance on repetitive combat and a shortage of villains worth the big man's attention.

A very entertaining "thinking person's shooter" that provides more of the same to fans of the original release. It's tough to learn, but rewards you with an immersive, fun experience.

Aside from that, Touch Detective 2 1/2 is just more of the same, so your enjoyment will depend on what you thought of the first. [Nov 2007, p.96]

A fun title that offers a unique and fun single-player experience, Alien Zombie Mega Death is a certainly worth your hard earned money. Don't let those space babies go it alone.

Player-movement controls sport a nice pressure-sensitive touch that presents veterans with a good challenge toward perfecting their skills. But the gameplay stills feels a tad slow.

Incredibly addictive.

While it’s possible the casual gamer may be enchanted by the presentation, Panic’s high difficulty level will delight only hardcore players.

Finally, a well-balanced, fun Mobile Suit Gundam game that not only looks and sounds great, but also stays true to the illustrious anime series.

My experience with Monster Hunter Tri was fantastic. Despite its numerous flaws, it was fun, fascinating, complex, and undeniably alluring. I intend to keep on playing it, not on a daily basis, but whenever I feel the desire to experience the thrill of the hunt.

Not all of the games have aged particularly well. Pit Fighter, Kozmik Kroozr', and Primal Rage are almost unplayable, and the obnoxious taunts of Wizard of Wor will send you scrambling for the mute button.

An impressive and well thought-out offering that delivers a truly original and memorable strategic experience, even if interface and pacing issues help keep it from feeling quite as monumental as its inventive abilities.

At first, combat seems too twitchy and simplistic, while the training sequences last too long, but as you grow in power, and unlock your substantial latent wealth of special moves and combination plays, the rich combat possibilities reveal themselves.

Despite the lack of multiplayer capabilities and dearth of social options, the free game is definitely worth a look-- for shock value alone.

While Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition is a complete and solid game, the types of updates and outright lack of change in the production (we couldn't even get a new theme song or stages?) might not make the casual fans impulsively buy this update. Even $15 is a bit steep for features you might not use, and the $40 retail disk isn't a terrific option when Super Street Fighter IV retails anywhere from $10 to $30, depending on where you're buying it from.

On the negative side, the polygonal graphics are plagued by pixelization and the game is way too short, offering only six levels of quick shoot-em0up action. All told, Elemental Gearbolt may be a just a little too easy for the hardcore shooter, but enthusiasts should definitely rent this commendable game.

Though the Turtles may have aged almost 20 years, their look is as sharp and clean as when they first jumped out of the sewers. From the crazy animated ninjitsu moves to the colorful levels, the Turtles never looked so good on a small screen.

Kinetically challenging and undeniably captivating.

The game packs a punch, but the less-than-stellar visuals diminish the impact.

Completely skip the multiplayer aspect of Daxter, and you'll be pleasantly surprised to the game's accessibility and simple ways it draws you in for an all-around enjoyable adventure. Daxter finally proves that he can hold his own without Jak.

Sim fans will be disappointed with the under-powered defense, but for twitch players, NBA Live 2003 is a dream come true.

It would have been nice if Mad Moxxie lifted the level cap, but it still offers enough mayhem to make it worth the download for any Borderlands player looking for a little mindless killing.

Not all of the games have aged particularly well. Pit Fighter, Kozmik Kroozr', and Primal Rage are almost unplayable, and the obnoxious taunts of Wizard of Wor will send you scrambling for the mute button. [Dec 2004, p.116]

A wholly enjoyable if gruelingly difficult dungeon-crawler, Etrian Odyssey III is a worthwhile improvement on its predecessors, offering a variety of new features, options for customization, and fresh challenges to face.

So, is Watchmen worth your hard-earned cash? I'm going to have to give a resounding "yes" to this expertly crafted beat-em-up. Even with its' shortcomings Watchmen always feels fresh, and really stands apart as a downloadable title.

Overall, Puzzle Quest 2 is a sharper title than the last two games in the franchise. With tons of quests, various ways to customize your characters, and an improved combat system, fans of the original Puzzle Quest are going to have their hands full with this sequel.

It's still a great game, but it settled for being port when it could've been a complimentary extension to the iPhone game.

The developers are trying to take the franchise in an interesting new direction, and the fruit of their labor is worth checking out.

It's a good all-around package, but I expect that it will sneak under the radar now that the fall release season is in full swing. It's a shame because the single-player is every bit the addictive sugar rush that Modern Warfare is, and it's handsomely produced to boot. It's the perfect palate cleanser for a game like Dark Souls, which is the diametric opposite in terms of mood and gameplay. After being lost in a dungeon for hours on end, sometimes you just want to jump into a jet fighter and blow stuff up for a while. And in that regard, Ace Combat fits the bill perfectly.

Picross 3D won't exactly set the world on fire with its explosive graphics or its thrilling action but it's a competent and fun puzzle game.

Red Alert 3 is by no means a bad addition to the Red Alert series, but compared to its forebears it lacks much of the panache the series held and may hold some disappointments for fans despite the addition of a good new faction and a fairly satisfying single-player experience.

Controls are simple, yet effective -- touching on the right hand side of the screen activates the right flipper, and vice-versa. There are no gimmicky tilt controls, and the only other time you'll need to touch the screen is when you drag a finger on the plunger thingy to launch a ball.

It's a good all-around package, but I expect that it will sneak under the radar now that the fall release season is in full swing. It's a shame because the single-player is every bit the addictive sugar rush that Modern Warfare is, and it's handsomely produced to boot. It's the perfect palate cleanser for a game like Dark Souls, which is the diametric opposite in terms of mood and gameplay. After being lost in a dungeon for hours on end, sometimes you just want to jump into a jet fighter and blow stuff up for a while. And in that regard, Ace Combat fits the bill perfectly.

This version of Splinter Cell disappointingly doesn’t measure up to the superior versions on the Xbox, PS2, and PC, although it’s still a decent mission for the GameCube.

If "serious" is the last thing you associate with hockey games, you’ll have a blast hammering out checks on Hitz' rink - especially since Midway’s rolled back the price a notch.

It can't measure up to the likes of "SWAT 3" or "Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear," but Delta Force is a much improved and very fun tactical combat action game.

There's no denying that Devil Survivor Overclocked is a fantastic strategy/RPG. If you somehow missed this one when it initially released, then this is an easy recommendation.

Less enjoyable is the amazingly blatant product placement—bike brands like Trek and Specialized make sense, but while you pedal, billboards for online auction sites and energy bars peddle under the guise of earnable sponsorships. Gamers will tire of it quickly.

An enjoyable action title that's easy to pick up and play. If you can get past the preachy narrative and dialogue, you'll be immersed in intense combat and cool weapons.

Fun Labs displays some creative ideas, asks its boss what they think is cool, and then it tries to decide where to go from there.

Surprisingly fun if you have a couple friends to enjoy it with and is definitely worth the bargain price tag. Overall, for what you'd expect from games of this price, we have a pretty decent showing.

The controlls are tight with crisp response for the most part...There are plenty of weapon skills and magic attacks to master. [Apr 2004, p.70]

While fleeing from ghosts may seem like a small issue, it really does drag down an otherwise brilliant game. [Oct 2004, p.74]

One of the best in the series with exciting gameplay and clever mission objectives.

It's more different than fun, but once you get the hang of it, Air Ride's quirks become strengths.

Overall the best thing, besides the fact this is free, is the fact that it has the easiest achievements to date, besides using your Avatar.

A solid, fun mix of mini-games directly descended from Track & Field’s royal lineage. If you think vigorous button-mashing is the lowest form of gameplay, however, stay far, far away.

Sideway: New York is available for download for $9.99 on PSN and is well worth a look. While it's probably going to be derided as an easier version of Super Meat Boy or a less intellectual Braid, the truth is that Sideway: New York carves its own identity and deserves consideration among the best regarded downloadable platformers.

Urbz offers a nice, fresh twist on the Sims experience, for both veterans and newbies alike. Yet, despite seeing the goofy characters in a new fish tank, there isn't enough freshness throughout to keep you down wid it. It's not bad, it's just not baaad…you feel me?

Overall, the fielding controls are just good enough for the “Bigs.” As with earlier ASBs, timing buttonpresses for defensive moves like diving to stop grounders or sliding to snare low line drivers to the outfield is more adventurous than it has to be.

Darkwatch mixes its Western Roots with gothic horror and steampunk aesthetics, and the results are uniquely engaging...Just darned good fun while it lasts. [Sept 2005, p.64]

Engrossingly fun to play. [Nov 2005, p.132]

Don't get fooled by the cartoony visuals--this is one game that'll make you think long and hard in a good way.

On one hand it has plenty of great ideas and promise, but it lacks that polish that helps elevate games towards greatness. I'd still recommend that gamers check out Universe At War but it's a shame that it doesn't quite live up to its potential.

It’s really no more than yet another extension of a five-year-old gameplay device. Concept, meet the breaking point.

If you're prepared for the deliberate nature of its gameplay, Sniper Elite is a rewarding way to fight WWII from the comfort of your couch. Just keep in mind the prerequisite degree of patience.

The biggest setback, however, is the tragically minuscule length of the main story mode, which we leisurely knocked through in well under ten hours. With such rich story options in a beautifully designed world it's a shame that there isn't more for Spidey to do outside of the mild mini-missions and racing for medals.

While it's a bit pricey for what it offers, Backbreaker Vengeance is football at its most enjoyable, basic level. If you're a football fan who can accept this game for what it is as opposed to what it's not, you're sure to have fun with it.

Legend of Fae is a real treat that'll hit the sweet tooth of casual puzzle dabblers and serious RPG addicts alike.

P.N.03's strong aesthetics add flavor to the repetitive gameplay...Sure, this may not be the deepest GameCube offering available, but for those who crave a shoot-em-up with old-school inflections, P.N.03 is A-OK.

Arcade racers will be quite challenged by the difficulties of true F1 racing, and may run crying back to the muscle cars in GT3 out of frustration. However, if you already know what F1 racing is all about, then you can expect a well-crafted racing experience.

It's fundamentally the same game as "Soul Calibur III", only with more fighters, an online mode, and more create-a-character customizations. It's remarkably well produced and visually sumptuous, but its appeal remains limited to hardcore fighting veterans and casual button-mashers.

Neves is an addictive puzzle solving experience. Other than the drawback of the $30 price, my only real gripe with the game is that the jazz inspired soundtrack gets repetitive. The gameplay may grow old to some, but if you're looking for a mind-bending experience, Neves is a game that will keep you thinking.

As a standalone DS game, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is an amazing adventure almost at the level of "Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass". [Apr 2008, p.79]

Take gorgeous graphics, intense action, and interesting gameplay concepts, marry it to the legendary Castlevania franchise and release it on the DS. [Nov 2008, p.100]

The impressively goofy/cool audio effects and tunes ring amazingly true to the original’s.

Coats a thumb-blistering shooter with an old-school, sci-fi license. There's nothing particularly special here for classic TV fans, but classic shooter fans will find a battle worth fighting.

If all you need is a good challenge and you have the patience for turn-based strategy games, by all means, pick up this game. If the inconsistent presentation and lack of multiplayer options have you unconvinced, then it may be a good idea to wait for another one to come along. [July 2004, p.102]

A good start for PS2 RPGs, but lacks the polish, artistry, and refined story line of some recent PlayStation RPGs.

The Ridge Racer series has always seemed to provide games more suited to the casual arcade crowd than serious racing devotees, and despite its jump in graphics quality and new twists, this latest installment isn't likely to convert many to its streamlined feel.

But Moto GP 2006 is still one of the better racing games for the Xbox 360, sitting right alongside Project Gotham Racing 3 as a top-notch simulator. Enthusiasts, such as myself, will be pleased, and everyone else should still get on board and see what all the two-wheeled excitement is about.

Because most gamers aren't familiar with the Divine Comedy, the devs were free to safely take creative liberties but that doesn't absolve them of the burden of crafting a coherent narrative where your actions actually matter. Dante's doesn't do that particularly well and while the combat and level architecture is interesting enough that I stuck with it to the end, I was never fully invested in the story nor did I ever come to truly care about Dante's quest.

Tight and enjoyable, even if it doesn’t take advantage of the X factor.

The first game’s take on noir was fresh and powerful; the sequel has the same haunted spirit with less surprise value. While Max Payne’s rain-soaked world is a weary one, it’s also undeniably compelling.

Levels are admirably large, but the draw-in distance is pretty dreadful, and sometimes the camera can’t keep up. The new revert move enables massive vert-to-street-to-vert combos, but the controls don’t seem super-precise.

An engaging, sometimes cerebral experience that transforms familiar genre elements and lumps in spectacular art design for a sharp single-player experience.

Yes, this is all very gory, grisly, and absolutely not for kids or anyone with a weak stomach as people are decapitated, disemboweled, perforated, shot, and chainsawed—all to the cackling delight of your offscreen savior (brilliantly voiced by Brian Cox) who relishes each kill.