Peggle is a game that everyone should play, even if you've already done so on multiple other platforms.

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.

SH2 makes more effective use of shadows, lighting, and sound than 99 percent of the Hollywood horror movies made in the last 20 years.

There a lot to love about Peace Walker. Its visuals, non-critical quests and activities, the addictive-as-crack base management, controls, and even co-op options (if that's your thing), offer a level of polish and craft rarely seen in a portable title. Unfortunately, its boring, hard-as-hell boss encounters keep it a couple of notches below a perfect score.

Hours of it at once will make your eyes glaze over. That's why this title's so good for "casual" gamers-it's a blast in 15-minute spurts, and if you stick to that schedule, there's enough action inside to keep you engaged for weeks.

The real star of the game is the stellar A.I. No game rewards you so much for playing smart basketball or punishes you so badly for playing high school ball.

There has been some criticism levied against the PS3 version of Orange Box for daunting load times and framerate issues and while they are present, it's easy to forgive these technical issues given the quality of the game itself. If you have a PS3, you can't afford not to own it.

With an enormous world to explore, a great variety of puzzles, and a whole lot of humor, Grandia is sure to please any RPG fan who hungers for hours of immersing gameplay and puzzle solving.

In short, it's everything I could have hoped for in a (spiritual) successor to Demon's Souls. I'm pleased to recommend it to anyone who wants to see the medium pushed to its limits and beyond.

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.

Thrilling, addictive gameplay loaded with tough battles and jaw-dropping moves that’ll lure even the most jaded b-ballers back to the court.

A basketball technician’s dream. Games against the CPU realistically mimic a real game, while scrimmages against friends received a boost of energy thanks to sped-up gameplay and better shot blocking. ESPN NBA Basketball 2K4 retains the top slot by just a hair.

Savage moves enable you to beat, stab, slice, and dice opponents with vicious violence that is sure to excite fight fans to unbelievable heights.

Has its own quirks - you have to be too precise about lining up your player with the ball at arm’s length, so you’ll often miss swings you know you should've drilled. Spins also don’t have as much effect as they should, and the powered-up shots and serves are more challenging than they should be.

The mix of true physics, newbie approachability, gameplay depth, and even a sly sense of humor makes Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 thoroughly enjoyable.

If you’re looking to play hockey of the NHL variety, to tackle pro challenges and use real-life strategies, NHL 2K3 will thrill you as much as watching your team heroically survive a five-on-three penalty kill.

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.

Burnout Paradise offers one of the most intense racing experiences around. It won't wow you with a high degree of realism like Gran Turismo will but for pure racing action, it is one of the best titles ever produced.

The graphics are breathtaking, and the electronica soundtrack is well-done... The controls are impeccable.

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.

The kind of huge game that's easy to lose yourself in for weeks and months on end, sparkling with a ridiculous array of ways to play, great controls, and more unlockables than you can count. [Nov 2004, p.138]

Probably the single most annoying element, however, is the interface: a maze of endless menus. Let's just race already!

NHL 2001 takes this year's PlayStation Championship (against Sony's "FaceOff"), but it was a tight seven game showdown.

Essentially the same game with a slew of slick improvements, and gamers will have an absolute blast throwing down dunks while exploring its new features.

Bursting with awesome extras, Excitebike 64 should be more fun, but it just manages to be okay.

An engaging and action-packed title filled with the type of old-school arcade action that you just don't see too much in this day and age.

It will be yet another go-round on the same rollercoaster. And this time, to enjoy it fully, you won't have to measure up at a sign that says "you must be this obsessed with multiplayer to ride this ride."

Where "Full Spectrum Warrior" offered a fairly straightforward series of forking streets, Brothers' battlefields are big--so much so that you never feel bound by arbitrary barriers, wondering why you're funneling into forward fire when crossing the low wall on the left or the field to the right will take you well around it.