An excellent offering but is only recommended for the hardcore side-scrolling shooter fan due to the short gameplay time. [July 2005, p.74]

The complex environments from the console games are here, but the small size kills the visual detail, and the 3/4-overhead perspective makes those levels much harder to navigate.

As a bonus (although some would see this as a reason to buy the game), TRON 2.0 also includes the full versions of both the original "TRON" arcade game and the "Discs of TRON" arcade game. Control in both is spot on, with "Discs of TRON" using the shoulder buttons for targeting.

While Unreal Championship 2 is amazing on a technical level, it's short on creativity and personality. [May 2005, p.88]

The only thing we didn't like about Squeak Squad is that it's a tad on the easy side...But there is no denying the ineffable charm of this title.

Minor complaints aside, Comet Crash does a fantastic job at easing the unfamiliar into tower defense territory, and is well worth your asteroid-powered space bucks if you are looking for a light (yet addictive) strategy title.

The game’s only real flaw is that Spyro kind of handles like a broken bicycle, and steering him/her/it through the pseudo-3D landscape can get frustrating after the nine-hundredth time you’ve inadvertently come too close to a puddle of lethal water.

An interesting action/shooter and a worthy side story for the series. Forget about the ill-fated "Survivor"— Dead Aim is a first-person Resident Evil game that works.

Rogue Agent will leave you shaken and stirred. [Feb 2005, p.72]

It requires a lot more skill and concentration than "Hot Shots"’ gameplay, but it features a lot more risk and reward, too.

The best bit of tennis software the PSP is going to get. [Nov 2005, p.130]

Rocketbowl is not a title to just brush off. It has a lot of features to it that are fun and exciting. Getting your friends online to have an online tournament and show off your skills you honed from the single player.

But as a game, its streamlined mechanics and more action-oriented combat should appeal to console players, but hardcore fans of PC RPGs may feel slighted.

Crippling frame rate problems tarnish an otherwise engaging single-player experience. Ultimately, the addictive online multiplayer is the main attraction; without it, there’s not much to see here.

As it stands, it's the third best next-gen off-road racing title I've played and while third place won't get you the checkered flag, it still gets you onto the winner's podium.

Fruit Ninja Kinect isn't a remarkably deep or long-lasting experience, but it's a smart adaptation of the mobile hit that delivers intense, albeit short-lived bursts of enjoyment. Plus, it provided me the sorest Kinect-related limbs I've had since the launch.

Shining Force's biggest strengths are its setting, a delightfully half-serious anime fantasy world, and some of the most memorable, weirdest characters (jellyfish, armadillos, crash-test moles) you'll ever amass for an army. [July 2004, p.88]

If you can get over some of its geriatric issues (I'm not an ageist, I swear), you'll get plenty of enjoyment out of Sam & Max Save the World. Its quirky fun and offers gamers a change of pace from traditional XBLA fare.

All in all, NCAA Football 10 is an enjoyable college football sim that doesn't quite reach superstar status. It has a great set of skills but it doesn't excel in any one area.

Improves on the first "Red Faction" on almost every level. The graphics are superb, the action is relentless, and the Geo-Mod aspects play a more integral role in the game.

This isn't the deepest videogaming experience you can buy for sixty bucks. It's not going to change the genre. It's not going to be the game of the year. It's just something fun to do after killing a few beers.

If you are starving for some snow shredding action, jump on it, but if you are looking for some cutting edge carves, hold off for "SSX."

A great idea for a game, but it needs refinement in item management and greater variety in the sea and land battles.

Fans of Conan will appreciate this game as much as hack-and-slash fans who've never heard of the franchise. It's a lot of fun, challenging without being frustrating and all in all, a great example of its genre.

With an equal amount of attention to detail across the board, Midnight Club: Los Angeles is a fun racer that won't bog you down with menu after menu of tuning specs and testing screens.

Still, with its quirky presentation and interesting gameplay, LocoRoco 2 makes some fantastic improvements over its short-but-sweet precursor that should attract fans of the series and newcomers alike. [Mar 2009, p.80]

Solid audio effects round out the aesthetic package, but the obnoxious music score is best left silent.

For Warhammer 40k fans, this game's a no-brainer but even if you're unfamiliar with the franchise, Squad Command is a quality turn-based strategy game that deserves serious consideration.

Even while having more twitch-combat, the strategic aspect has not been compromised, making the game approachable for both hardcore and casual audiences.

While it may come off as unimaginative and highly repetitive to some, there is an ample amount of entertainment awaiting fans of the Sega Rally series, and those fans of arcade racers in general.

A major leap over last season and brings back all the features we so dearly missed. Although the visuals are some of the best we've seen on the Xbox 360, the controls and overall gameplay could take a lesson from close competitor "NBA 2K" series.

Still, the rock-solid strategy and engaging character developement system make Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories a strong contender for tactical RPG crown regardless of its audio/visual shortcomings. [Oct. 2006, p.99]

Features large, crisp player models with smooth animations. For once, the crowd in a basketball game looks halfway decent, and the bench players are full polygonal models.

The PS3 version's weaker graphics and moderately interesting Sixaxis controls come in second to the overall experience on the Xbox 360.

The auto graphics shine throughout. Whether you're into tuning or just customizing your ride, Midnight Club 3 is more than roadworthy.

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.

With a better laid-out world, more cleverly hidden treasures, and a great sense of nonlinearity, The Ancient City is a nice bit of evolution for the series.

This is the first in the series of Bit.Tip titles brought to you by Gaijin Games and they knock it out of the park with a great first title. Solid controls, four player co-op play, enjoyable music and old school visuals that will make anyone smile. This is a must download for the Wii.

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. This is a good game, but not a great one.

Twin Snakes isn't a bad game by any stretch, but as an opportunity to enhance an already awesome gaming experience, it misses the mark. [April 2004, p.64]

If you find yourself the baffled over ways to entertain your guests at a gathering, it might be money well spent.

If you want a simple pick-up-and-play racer keep looking. If you know a bit about cars and want a game to spend some serious time on, then look no further than Sega GT.

It's not an instant classic by any means, but even burnt-out veterans should enlist and take the plunge for one more tour of duty. [Oct 2007, p.79]

The game is fast-paced and simple (the only way to fail is to miss three fruits or accidentally slice a bomb), and the inclusion of online global leaderboards adds a little extra incentive to boot up the game when I'd otherwise be bored.

It’s just weird enough to be worth owning for posterity.

It pumps up the star power with plenty of show, but Superstar Freestyle doesn't ignore the go. Whether your real-life NBA team is headed for playoff stardom or a ticket to the lottery, NBA Live should make the 2006 just a little more enjoyable.

The brilliant graphics and intriguing combat system make Grandia III an excellent choice for PS2 RPGers-and should happily tide them over until "Final Fantasy XII" arrives. [Mar 2006, p.102]

Slick controls make piloting your craft as natural as breathing, and performing barrel rolls, loops and toggling through your weapon inventories become pure reflex.

A pack that responds to each race's events is an outstanding concept that should elevate the gameplay, but NASCAR 2005's execution of it is too unbalanced to create the hoped-for effect. [Nov 2004, p.142]

Woozle is a deceptively challenging puzzle game in which your goal is to direct marbles along complex, maze-like tracks. If you're after a laid-back puzzler, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better option than Woozzle.

The controls for the plane are everything they should be, and echo most every other aspect of the game: a tightly polished product that is simply intuitive. Though the action became intense and sometimes frustrating, I was always ready to jump right back into the mix.

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]

Some frustrating A.I., however, causes Shrek 2 to suffer badly as a single-player game (or any time the computer controls a party member), and switching between the characters to overcome the menial obstacles feels like a chore when playing solo. [Aug 2004, p.68]

Out of the Park Baseball 12 is a stats and text-based baseball sim where players are given complete control of any baseball club they choose. Unlike other sports games, players take a back seat for the action, but get a plush office as team general manager, with a full set of tools at their disposal to raise their team to glory.

It's a fine game to play with Remote and Nunchuk, with some level segments changed to accommodate them, but at points you can really tell the game was intended for more tactile controls.

It can be tedious to baby-sit both characters, but the game otherwise guarantees hours of enjoyment, even if it’s only to jump and flip around.

Ultimately, Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 is still going to appeal to people who like golf games.

While undeniably odd, there's just something about it that pulls you in and doesn't let go until you've expended hours of your precious time on the thing.

While Tatsunoko vs. Capcom isn't nearly as deep or as "technical" as Capcom's other offerings, it's still an excellent fighting experience, especially for Wii fighting game fans that don't have a wealth of options available to them.

SC2 improves upon its predecessor by taking the franchise formula and upgrading it in a very tangible way.

The advances in gameplay, graphics, and features are quite noticeable as GameDay is a solid, enjoyable football experience; however, it’s still not yet ready to take the starter position.

The controls are quite responsive, offering a wide assortment of combat moves, but the weak camera hinders them.

Exigo's multileveled gameplay is a good first step in an interesting direction, but unfortunately, that's not always enough to compete in the brutally competitive RTS genre. With more tweaking, Armies of Exigo could definitely give Blizzard a run for its money. [Dec 2004, p.126]

By combining solid pixel animations with awesome scaling and rotation effects, the developers have achieved an impressive, psuedo-3D effect.

The gameplay blows minds. The lush, detailed graphics and driving sountrack are the icing on the cake. [Dec 2004, p.108]

With its deep Clan system and 400 missions worth of downright addictive quests, I can't help but recommend it. [July 2008, p.82]

The game does a great job of continuing to reward you for your performance and because of that, SHIFT is an engaging and addictive sim racer. It sets a great foundation for future iterations but hopefully, the sequel won't suddenly throw the e-brake on the action and force you to the side of the road every now and again.

It represents Mega Man doing what he does best-beating bosses with cool themes, collecting their weapons, and overcoming well-designed levels that are difficult…but not stupidly-super-frustratingly difficult.

The addition of two-player modes makes PaRappa more of a party experience and extends the game's life beyond novelty. The story is just plain weird, but it's still a great hoot.

If it weren’t for the sloppy handling, Rogue III could have flown a perfect flight.

Much like Chibiterasu, Okamiden faithfully does the job of its predecessor, although it lacks much of the grace and poise that we saw last time from Amaterasu's adventure. Still, the feel of the franchise is intact, and that's what really matters here. With extra post-game content and plenty of quests to complete before and after the final battle, Okamiden is a solid closing entry in the original DS's history.

The single player career mode is surprisingly short, and after a few missions starts to feel repetitive. Though it won't blow many minds, SWAT 4 is a pick-up-and-play tactical shooter with a solid pedigree.

In short, you'll have a blast but you'll pay a heavy price for it sooner or later.

Without its surreal mix of worlds and characters, Disney Universe would be little more than a fun, but forgettable LEGO game rip-off. However, with enough charm and personality to fill Cinderella's Castle, it's hard not to recommend it to those who make annual treks to Disneyland or catch every Pixar flick on opening day. If that doesn't describe you, but you're an adult looking for a fun interactive romp to take with your kids, Disney Universe is still a great place to visit.

As one of the first budget-priced GameCube-to-Wii upgrades, New Play Control! Pikmin is a perfect example of what the series is capable of.

In the end, while Critter Crunch might not be the most unique puzzler available on PSN, the game's charming characters, stunning animation, and variety-packed gameplay makes it well worth the paltry asking price. Just don’t ask Biggs for food…you won’t like what he gives you.

Without its surreal mix of worlds and characters, Disney Universe would be little more than a fun, but forgettable LEGO game rip-off. However, with enough charm and personality to fill Cinderella's Castle, it's hard not to recommend it to those who make annual treks to Disneyland or catch every Pixar flick on opening day. If that doesn't describe you, but you're an adult looking for a fun interactive romp to take with your kids, Disney Universe is still a great place to visit.

Classic RPG elements (like turn-based battles, item stores, and a rich plotline) flesh out classic Mario elements (like star/coin collecting, pipe travel, and jumping on things' heads as a means of violent retribution) to create a thoroughly enjoyable gaming experience (as long as you can tolerate the cuuute!).

It's just the kind of game for people that thought NBA Hangtime, Open Ice, and WWF Arcade were as real as they need in a sports game.

It's unique and memorable, and with two new enjoyable multiplayer modes, fans of puzzle games are sure to get their money's worth with Chime Super Deluxe. If you didn't catch the original Chime when it came out last year, be sure to check out this latest iteration. The definitive version is not to be missed.

But honestly, it's the puzzling that makes Clash of Heroes tick. Even without the online multiplayer and superior graphics, I would still recommend this game to RPG and puzzle fans, as not nearly enough people played the original. Here on high-definition consoles, it's cheap and accessible, meaning that it demands a look. If you missed out on the original, consider this a second chance. Go and take it.

At $14.99, About a Blob is a bit on the high side for what it offers. If you're thinking of playing this game just by yourself, it may not be worth it. But if you have some Robins at ready to follow your gelatinous Batman, About a Blob is a good deal.

To me, this game is well worth the dough -- Cave's superior development quality is more apparent to those who play these games a lot.

A great game...But if you're looking for the best jet-skiing game this fall, keep an eye out for "Splashdown" for the PS2...it has the potential to smoke Blue Storm.

Quirky and not for everyone, but it has an engaging charm and an addictive pitcher/batter interface that make it stand out.

Far more frustrating, though, is the pedestrian level design, which delivers frequent ambushes that rely on memorization and replay instead of stealth and skill.

Age of Empires: The Age of Kings beautifully leverages the DS's unique strength--its interactive touchscreen--to create a truly worthwhile handheld strategy game. With any luck, we're looking at the dawn of a golden age in DS strategy games.

A lengthy career mode is Skate It's highlight, as it sees you building your skills through increasingly difficult challenges.

It's a great sim game. However, it's simply not a solid buy at $60 a pop--especially considering this is basically the same game as the PS2 and Xbox versions, just without the Crease Control feature and hi-definition graphics.

Rookie developer Little Boy Games seems like a veteran with the release of Go! Go! Break Steady. Stylized graphics, smooth 2D character animations and a slick presentation make Go! Go! Break Steady an experience not quite like anything else out there.

Graphic adventures have a fairly set audience, and if you haven't liked other games that force you to scan a screen, pixel-hunting for clues, then Red Johnson is nowhere near different enough to change your mind. But fans of the old-school definitely won't find another game like this on PSN.

Despite its flaws, MLB Bobblehead Pros does a great job of blending the light heartedness of a sports arcade game with the complexity of a more traditional sports sim.

Stranglehold might stumble occasionally under its own ambitious weight, and might not quite deliver on all its promises and potential, but it's still a unique and absorbing 8-hour tour through a legendary action director's potent unfilmable dreams.

The game's new vehicle-based emphasis will probably turn off some long-time fans, but I really enjoyed the game's premise. [Dec 2008, p.95]

The beautifully animated black-and-white game has recently been updated to universally function on both the iPad and the iPhone, with another selectable soundtrack from the always-excellent Danny Baranowsky added to the iPad package, making the game's HD debut that much sweeter.

Great pick-up-and-play, arcade-style fun.

The House of the Dead: Overkill: Extended Cut adds more content to a raunchy, entertaining romp. If you got tired of Detective Washington's non-stop cursing while playing it before, you'll find no reprieve here. But if you've never experienced it, or you're hankering to test drive it in HD, it's well worth your while.

Delivering such an exhaustive package of quality games and extras earns Capcom a high score on this one.