Represents a sizable leap forward in EA’s line of 007 games. The star-studded cast would’ve been suitable for an actual movie.

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's juvenile, it occasionally objectionable (I'm sorry, I just don't like blasting away at bikini models, even if they are trying to kill me too) and sometimes after playing I feel like I should go take a shower. But I can't remember a game I've played recently that was so dedicated to letting the gamer have as much fun as possible any way they want to. And when it comes to having fun, Saints Row: The Third is like a big party that you don't want to see stop.

There's no denying that GT5 is absolutely incredible, but due to its immense size and complexity, not all its facets are of the same standard, and as a result it's brilliant, but imperfect. For the most part it delivers a 5-star experience. But I do feel compelled to ding it half a star, simply because of the parts of the game that don't. That makes me feel horribly nitpicky and churlish, because despite my criticism I know I love GT5, and I'll be playing it for months, and maybe even years.

The game looks incredible on a P4 2.7 GHz with a Radeon 9800 Pro, but still looks extremely impressive (and played wonderfully) on an Athlon 1.7GHz running a lowly GeForce 3.

As fun as these excursions into petty theft and extortion might be, the essence of The Warriors is combat, and it's the first game in ages to truly nail it.

The first Skate was a refreshing take on virtual skateboarding, so expectations were high for this one. Maybe they were a little too high: Skate 2 doesn't quite deliver the revolutionary skating experience that we were all hoping it would be. It's still a lot of fun and has a lot to offer, especially with its awesome multiplayer modes, but the franchise is still a ways away from living up to its full potential.

This highly anticipated sequel builds on the best parts of its predecessor, while introducing some notable new ways to innovate the familiar puzzle formula.

This unconventional handheld port of Capcom's flagship fighting franchise works surprisingly well with the iPhone and iPod Touch's control schemes, but suffers largely due to a lack of online wi-fi.

The fun I had with the rock-solid gunplay and extensive role-playing elements was considerably amplified by each additional player. Borderlands is an absolute blast that I'll go back to again and again, even if my friends aren't around to help out.

While Indigo Prophecy is an intense gaming experience, it's easier to compare the title to a film affair. If you can get past the minimalist game interface Prophecy can be an awesome entertaining play.

Half-Minute Hero is an absolute blast, and a decidedly original (and hilarious) take on the fantasy RPG genre.

As I said in my first field report, hardcore Madden players may not appreciate all the changes, but those of us who are more casual fans have a lot to like.

Improves upon the original in several fundamental ways. Most importantly, it allows you to build your fortresses and buildings anywhere on the map, rather than pre-set building zones, opening your strategy up and allowing for a lot more variation in gameplay.

The superior force in online warfare and a real candidate for PC Game of the Year. If you’re fed up with Flak Cannons and Rail Guns, enlist with this platoon. Posthaste, soldier!

Jump at the second chance and get this one while you can. There’s no other game like it.

If there is one Classic NES cart to throw your nickel to, it's this one. Trust us on this. [Sept 2004, p.93]

Unmatched in its field thanks to major improvements in every category combined with a deeply rewarding simulation experience.

All anyone really needs to know however is that 3rd Strike looks great, plays great, sounds great and is the definitive version of the SFIII 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]

A butter smooth online FPS experience with finely balanced gameplay.

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.

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.

Thankfully, Isaac's shmup-like approach makes the game a little easier than the nightmare of a melee-only roguelike, though it's still no cakewalk. Like the Souls series, you'd best keep on your guard, since death is permanent and there are no saves. A playthrough can be as short as an hour, but with randomized loot and boss encounters on top of several unlockables, you'll want to put Isaac through hell multiple times.

A nicely executed adventure worth fighting for, just be prepared to suffer inglorious defeats until you get used to the game cam.

UFC 2009 Undisputed does have a couple of issues that keep it from being a MMA-fan's dream come true but it is still a tremendous title that will make any fan of the sport proud.

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

Eustrath feels like a polished console release in a handheld package, but it's not without its issues -- namely, the story translation could've used a bit of work, and there are some noticeable balancing problems early on.