While the series has strayed from its hardcore sim roots pioneered by Coach K College basketball way back in the Genesis’s heyday, it at least has defined an identity and found a fun formula as well.

When I wasn't thrashing foes along complex battle maps, I was laughing my ass off at the brilliant cutscene sequences.

With its deftly meshed story lines, deep use of spellcasting, and innovative insanity system, Eternal Darkness is a unique and tasty addition to the survival/horror genre.

There's plenty of bang for your buck, and attempting missions over again in harder difficulty modes can really prove themselves as addicting challenges. Throw in the extraordinary Crysis Wars multiplayer, and you've got yourself an absolute steal.

Still, $15 is a small price for a remake of a game that I always considered to be better than Street Fighter IV. Many 2D fighting games have outright borrowed or stolen wholesale from the Street Fighter III series' formula, and for good reason -- there simply hasn't been a been a better 2D fighting game since. If you want to see how good at Street Fighter you really are, step up.

We Rule plays like a combination of Sim City and Farmville. Aside from a large variety of crops (which can take up to a day in real time to grow) that can be cultivated on a limited number of farm spaces, money can be made.

Beat the Heat games are the best part of this speedster, cleverly mixing a variety of cool driving techniques with engrossing competition.

To date, Wario Ware Touched is the only DS game that fully utilizes the DS's unique functions and is a must have for all DS owners.

Genji's appeal for hardcore and newbies alike is that it's an excellently crafted example of the good 'ole slice and dicer with just enough challenge to keep things interesting.

A perfect sitting around the living room, talking smack with your buddies, everyone's involved party game.

It may not be the flashiest RPG of the year, but it's definitely one of the best, with its solid combination of terrific gameplay and a compelling story.

The Skills Stick alone make NHL 07 a completely different game and one worthy of the new NHL. [Oct. 2006, p.96]

While I personally don't LOVE the overabundance of hard rock and metal songs, every track on the game is more than fun to play along with, and the classic rock tunes are savage, as usual...One of the best gaming experiences ever.

The feel of the driving is what earned the McRae series its reputation, and the controls remain impeccable in this PS2 edition.

The foot-tapping techno music tracks accompany each stage perfectly, and the sound effects shine with a plethora of explosions and other sounds of destruction.

Like taking a trip through a modern art museum…except all of the paintings are moving, all the sculptures are breathing, and every display is shooting swarms of genetically enhanced laser missiles at the thoughts inside your head.

The character is easy to control, but learning the large quantity of combos makes for a highly rewarding game.

The thoughtful and varied designs of each mission are clearly linear, yet somehow avoid a stuck-on-rails feel, whether you're sneaking around in the dark, gathering photographic evidence, or tearing through the occasional action set-piece.

As a more casual shooter, the game is an enormous improvement over its predecessor, fixing all the problems with lag, graphics, and shallow gameplay that kept that game from being the masterpiece it deserved to be.

For one thing, it's 20% cheaper at $20 in comparison to the PC version's $25 price tag. When you factor in the Trophies that encourage you to tackle some of the game's puzzles and conversations in different ways, I offer the same level of recommendation for this iteration.

Regardless of its shortcomings, FFX-2 is an engrossing RPG that’s worth the extensive time investment, although it may be a bit too awkward and saccharine for hardened FF vets.

Smart new theory kicks a dying genre in the butt and makes for a unique single-player and terrific two-player game.

Where Stoked was an impressive if flawed debut, Big Air Edition is a superior semi-sequel that should cement the series as a successful snowboarding franchise. If you missed it the first time around, be sure to grab a lift ticket for Stoked's second run.

Despite the shortcomings, ESPN NHL 2K4 is the Cup champ because it really plays and, aside from the rather sluggish-moving players, feels like a hockey simulation should. [Dec 2004, p.144]

It shows depth, talent, and imagination. Everything any winning team needs.

Siren’s ghouls not only search for you with flashlights and come at you with shovels, but they also skitter along telephone wires and snipe you from rooftops. They don’t die.

Instantly engaging and packed with an awesome four-player mode, F-Zero X delivers high-powered racing with that immaculate Nintendo touch.

It's as addictive as Puzzle Quest, but instead of utilizing an RPG element, EA married the puzzle concept to a platformer. The result is a fantastic title that should appeal to gamers of all stripes.

The fighting world has a brand new and addictive style of gameplay. Kengo pays homage to an art form that's rarely seen, and plays as a well-crafted and fun experience that no fighting-game fan should miss.

This is the best instance of video game flipper mashing since "Pokémon Pinball" on the GBC.

While kids will love the cheerful graphics and cute characters, adults can marvel at the simple but polished 3D levels-such as the reflective floors in Monkey Bowling.

Every once in a while there comes a game that truly defines creativity. Destroy All Humans is indeed one such game; it has all the right elements to make it a smart, intuitive, and hilarious experience.

What Monsters Joker 2 really does best is to create a bright, vibrant world that does a great job of paying homage to the Dragon Quest franchise while also giving it a different spin. It's a bit slow to start -- monster synthesis takes a bit to unlock -- but it's an overall rewarding experience and one of the best Nintendo DS games to be released this year.

The utterly perfect soundtrack delivers exactly the mood you want, from the smooth coolness of the Predator’s snarl to the eerie silence of the Marine’s pinging motion tracker.

Instead of just slapping together a string of mayhem-filled events, Monster created an absorbing and surprisingly unique Career mode that makes the game worth playing for a good while. [Oct 2004, p.78]

The crisp 2D art in Zombie Smash gives it a high-grade feel, but the music (composed by Chris Hülsbeck, who did the scores for the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron series) is the real highlight of the show.

Not everyone's going to love the transplanted platform puzzler elements, and RPG purists might be turned off by the wafer-thin town exploration, but just discovering the way your different options fit together is so endlessly absorbing that even wildly divergent tastes will agree that Valkyrie Profile 2 is yummy indeed.

Filled with enough chaos and wicked humor to forgive the slight reliance on platform clichés, Whiplash really is a hell of a game. With a little more polish before release, this game could have been a true masterpiece.

Even with these few select caveats, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams is a stellar addition to the series and a new beginning for Capcom's fourth largest franchise. One has to wonder with all the multiplayer RPG aspects, will there be an online Onimusha title on the horizon.

Deep, addictive gameplay; worthy sequel to the original Puzzle Quest.

Where the wheat gets separated from the chaff, however, is the A.I.; and Sega’s game is all whole-grain goodness.

This may just be the best comic book–based game ever.

No More Heroes easily ranks among the Wii's finest titles, busting a bunch of myths along the way. You say sword-based combat peaked with Twilight Princess? Wait until you slice a suit-wearing crony in half. The Wii can't do mature games? This game does it without the dark dreariness of just about every other violence-laden M-rated title. It could use a bit less filler, but No More Heroes is still a fine fight from the first blow to the last strike.

One of SH's coolest features is its excellent Dual Shock support: The controller beats like a heart, thumping harder when you're close to death, and its responsiveness keeps you in command.

Incredible cooperative and competitive multiplayer is brilliantly designed around the new maps, modes and enemies.

Shatter adds a lot of flavor to a traditional block breaker game. With definite influence from Geometry Wars and other HD remakes, Shatter is a must buy for almost anyone.

Deserves attention because of its captivating feel and deep features.

Excellent graphics, superb story, addictive gameplay, and a simple interface combine to blast 3D real-time strategy into the vastness of space.

The game is a blast and gave me a nasty blister on my left thumb, which to me is always a good, albeit painful sign, of a solid and addictive gaming experience.

Thanks to fresh physics challenges, ample combo lines, and trick-filled locales, Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX is the game to get.

It's perfect for quick sessions and there's enough content to keep you satisfied for a long while. If you take your DS with you everywhere you go, you definitely should put this on your shopping list.

What's really been most surprising to me is that the gaming experience as a whole is so fully developed for a startup MMO.

Most people will be reluctant to fork over that much coin for an XBLA title but considering the game's box feel and content both Penny Arcade and non-Penny Arcade fans will enjoy, you should get over that concern and play this game.

The control feels natural and responsive, but the Xbox 360 version features somewhat larger players on the feild than the PS2 - something gamers without big screens may wish to consider.

Renegade has its assorted other problems, like Gump-level enemy A.I. and somewhat silly mechanics (destroying a building’s master terminal disables the entire building), but the sheer fun of blasting your way through Nod's defenses and just being a badass makes up for a lot.

In between some breakneck driving and intense gunplay, you get plenty of tough guy angst, wicked doublecrosses, and excruciatingly brutal thuggery.

By delightfully melding combat and puzzle solving with solid pinball physics, Mario Pinball is not only the first pinball action/adventure game, but it's also a damn good one at that. [Nov 2004, p.130]

A great little game that instantly sucks you into a deep fantasy world of conflict and combat. The learning curve is average for an RPG game, but the rewards are well worth the study time.

As a quality tennis title and an impressive showcase of Nintendo's new tech, EA's ambitious first effort easily takes the cup.

While business minutia often drags down world-building sims, Operation Genesis offers enough variety and a bit of real action to not only set it apart but also keep players very satisfied.

A skillfully crafted work of art that delivers a high level of entertainment from start to finish, especially in high-definition and Dolby Digital audio (highlighted by great western music). But Gun won't jump out at you as a next-gen technological masterpiece--it's just too early for that.

While I still hold "Super Mario World" as the best 2D Mario game, with "Super Mario Bros. 3" as the runner up, New Super Mario hits a close third. But it does have much more replay value than the other two, as you could easily play this one a few times though without the risk of it getting stale.

The mud, the jumps, the skids, and fun track designs make Colin McRae Rally 2.0 one very enjoyable racing title.

But EA Sports Active has a great core--it will motivate you to work out and have you doing it the right way.

There's an incredible amount of fun that comes from filing the shoes of some of the most inspiring musicians ever to walk the earth, and Harmonix captures this experience with same sense of magic that the Beatles were known for. It's well worth the price of admission, even if you forgo the replica instruments and stick to your stock Rock Band gear. [Nov 2009, p.74]

Virtually everything you come into contact with during your time spent with this game is laden with a truly warped sense of humor.

Presentation wise, the wide range of characters and vast courts look great and feature a high level of detail. Animation can be a bit stiff looking, but this is still one of the best-looking volleyball games ever.

If the offensive and defensive balance were just a bit more fine-tuned..., NBA Live 2004 would have the legs for multiple plays through the Dynasty mode and a clear shot as the top hoops game.

Despite its shortcomings, Outbreak’s hefty replay, intense action, and clever scenario designs make for an engaging play—on- and offline, and a must for any Resident fan. Here, success ultimately depends on how helpful everyone’s willing to be.

I'm going to recommend Gay Tony but only to GTA-fanatics who are willing to gloss over the still persistent faults; it's with them in mind that I award the game a high score. But gamers who've already given up on GTA won't find anything here to change their minds, so save your MS points for something else.

The sequel doesn’t stray far from the original, but SSX Tricky has far more personality and the ultimate tricks wired—rewarding gameplay and a high replay value.

So, while it doesn't eclipse the greatness of the original title that inspired it, Heavenly Sword is still a fun, engaging, and most importantly, exclusive PS3 title that Sony fanboys can brag to 360 fanboys about.

Blazing graphics and excellent controls, as well as a variety of play modes for a repeatedly enjoyable experience.

What little it lacks in gameplay sits UT a close second to Eidos' excellent "TimeSplitters."

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The most striking change is in the innovative control scheme--where you use the right analog stick to throw jabs, hooks, and uppercuts--which has now been slightly altered to enable you to fight more like a professional pug in the ring.

More than any other launch title Feel the Magic was conceived and constructed to fully express the unique technological potential of the DS, and its Wario-inspired mini-games require quick reflexes, pinpoint accuracy, a steady hand, strong lungs, and a healthy sense of the absurd to successfully complete.

Be warned, some parts will frustrate you to the point of anger, but there's no shame in infinite continues.

All in all, I can't recommend Left 4 Dead highly enough.

Button spacing on the GameCube controller is the only real liability as it takes some time to learn not to hit X and A at the same time.

There's no doubt that it's yet another improvement on the concept. The game rocks...and so will you. [Dec 2004, p.118]

There are some awkward moments, but it shouldn't come as much of a shock that Dawn of Sorrow is otherwise wonderfully refined and enjoyable. [Nov 2005, p.132]

You don't need to be a fan of modern art to appreciate Proun, but don't be surprised if it turns you into one.

Best weapons to date, crystal clear sound, easier control than previous Worms games.

No, there ain’t much of a story...and, a’ight, there ain’t a whole lotta depth...but if variety, challenge, off-color humor, and plain stupid fun is what your soul craves, then your soul craves the flava of ToeJam & Earl.

While CNK may not break new ground, it does a quality job of delivering another kart racer in Crash’s universe. It will put gamers' mettle to the test and offer hours of "wait, one more time..." gameplay.

Delivers a burly extreme experience that doesn’t feel like it was cloned.

It’s a well-crafted, brilliantly designed, and lovingly developed space adventure that’s every bit as gripping as "EverQuest" ever was.

If you're an action-shooter fan, looking for a pleasant distraction, the game delivers a quality experience, considering the $20 price tag. However, if you're a fan of the comics and were hoping for some of the glorious art style and heavy plot twists, you might just wish that XS Games had left The Red Star on the shelves to rot.

The most balanced version, combining the best qualities of the PC and PS2 games into one well-rounded offering. [Sept 2005, p.53]

A fantastic title that suffers graphically on the console, but still retains everything else that made it so special.

Though a bit rough around the edges in places, The Outfit's fearless fusion of action and strategy pays off in a big way. It's engaging, it's addictive, and it's ferociously one-of-a-kind. [Apr 2006, p.74]

The saccharine score is standard Nintendo fare; it will creep into your psyche and have you humming at random intervals throughout the day.

Visually, the game doesn’t disappoint—lots of shiny cars, detailed environments, and lighting effects that prove crucial during these after-hours races.

Maybe the option that tips the scales for you is Madness's all-mascot teams. [Jan 2005, p.106]

A solid, riveting story combined with refined gameplay set this game firmly in the outstanding (or should that be "uncanny"?) category.

The game plays great with the standard Dreamcast control pad as long as you switch the "fire" button to the Left shift button and of course you can use the DC keyboard and Mouse for PC-perfect play.

Mos Speedrun plays a lot like the recently-released League of Evil, and by that I mean that it does platforming right on a device where few have succeeded. Everything from the beat-heavy chiptune soundtrack to the high-resolution "8-bit" graphics reek of polish, and the game itself controls beautifully.