There's some good fun to be had in Destruction Derby Raw, just don't expect it to blow your tires off.

Has all the realism most gamers will want, plus plenty of mini-games to keep you challenged.

Inexplicably Fun.

Prisoner of Azkaban’s faithfulness to the book, mesmerizing graphics, and captivating score are a treat for Potter fans.

Taken with a healthy dose of tolerance, D-2 really shouldn't be a bad game to add to your collection..

As fun as hurling dozens of rockets at a time into a swarm of giant alien ants is, it will get boring after a few hours. If you're up for a shallow yet addictive and gratuitously violent shooter, you can't go wrong with Earth Defense Force. Just take a break every few hours and read a book to rebuild some of the higher brain function you just lost.

Though sometimes slow and laborious, .hack//G.U. Vol.1 Rebirth is a well thought out update to the series, and is a welcome addition to the growing dot hack family.

Trouble Witches Neo is a fantastic value for its price: It's easily one of the best shooters on XBLA, and offers a depth of play and wealth of content that will keep you coming back for more. While it's still a bit rough around the edges, the core game is so solid that you can't help but be charmed.

WET's sassy style and minimalistic gameplay give it a tasty enough flavor that you won't find anywhere else, but like movie theater popcorn, you can only consume so much of it before you're hungry for something with a bit more substance.

To be blunt, The Conduit is a by the numbers shooter that offers a couple of thrills but ultimately doesn't make much of an impact.

A very brief but worthwhile addition to any Castlevania fan’s collection, but the uninitiated may find that the game’s platform-hopping techniques are behind the times.

The controls feel stiff at first and aren't configurable (lame!), but racing pros will like learning to finesse tight responses from the controller.

The retooled pitcher/batter interface has some cool options, yet the defensive controls—this year’s big addition—are infuriatingly hit-and-miss.

Playing Downhill Jam is like watching an infomercial at three in the morning: it's sort of amusing and it passes the time but you're not enthralled by what's going on, either.

BloodRayne: Betrayal is a lot like how I'd imagine being a vampire would be. Initially my newfound powers would be awesome and invigorating. Eventually though, immortality would inevitably lead to weariness. Thankfully, Rayne's six hour jaunt requires less commitment than a vampire's unholy contract, and while it may not be a life-changing event, its seductive pull is worth having a taste of.

When all's said and done, MagnaCarta 2 isn't terribly unique, and you won't remember much about it a few months after you're done with it. But what lies at the game's core is an appealing, well-crafted charm I found very fun. MagnaCarta 2's twisting road doesn't tread much new ground, but it's still an engaging ride regardless.

But with so many better looking and better playing b-ball games available, it's tough to recommend NBA Ballers: Phenom for anything beyond a kitschy weekend rental or a late night study break.

Blitz is no work of art. It's quirky, bizarro entertainment that grabs you like a swift kick to the testosterone sack and is best played live with guys in an M-rated atmosphere.

While it lasts, though, the game is a fun and enjoyable way to blow off some steam; light-gun junkies should definitely take a look at this one.

Despite the intended scope of the game, Haven’s sights and sounds are barely average.

Things get frantic quickly, so it'll be challenging to last for more than a few minutes for most players.

Visually, all three games have been retouched to look much sharper, while the audio remains standard fare: cool gun effects and hokey voices. [Mar 2004, p.63]

Sadly, the game falters during certain combat segments. While the control mechanics enable locking in on an attacker, at times, there are so many charging that it’s difficult to target a particular one.

If you can get over the fact that you might be using hints often, even if you're an old hand at adventure games, City of Secrets offers a few hours of cute 'n' clever entertainment at a respectable price, though younger kids will probably get the most out of it.

Fortunately, checkpoints are doled out steadily -- which is good, since missions can last over an hour. Along the same lines, you have to reconcile your play style with what the mission calls for in your loadout: In an escort mission, say, would you rather stay close to the front lines, or provide more backup? You can only carry two guns, and the default pair never felt ideal for me. Here's where you're encouraged to truly experiment, because your performance affects how much you can upgrade stats like combat-readiness or how long you can run without getting winded. It's just too bad that your performance will suffer because you had to babysit your wingmen.

Even with its faults this game is a great value. Other arcade titles with fun, solid gameplay, simple controls, and this many customizable features will run you between $10-$20, but lucky you, you get Battlefield Heroes for free.

The game is tough, and not in a good way. You better tighten up that Wii Remote strap because you will feel the urge to throw the controller through the television, especially early in the game, before Sonic gets a lot of his abilities. But once you get Sonic up to speed, the game is fun, but still really challenging.

Even though it's slightly hampered by some clunky presentation, Blue Dragon Plus is still intuitive, interesting, and has enough character and charm to set itself apart as an engaging SRPG.