The Ridge Racer series has always seemed to provide games more suited to the casual arcade crowd than serious racing devotees, and despite its jump in graphics quality and new twists, this latest installment isn't likely to convert many to its streamlined feel.

But Moto GP 2006 is still one of the better racing games for the Xbox 360, sitting right alongside Project Gotham Racing 3 as a top-notch simulator. Enthusiasts, such as myself, will be pleased, and everyone else should still get on board and see what all the two-wheeled excitement is about.

Because most gamers aren't familiar with the Divine Comedy, the devs were free to safely take creative liberties but that doesn't absolve them of the burden of crafting a coherent narrative where your actions actually matter. Dante's doesn't do that particularly well and while the combat and level architecture is interesting enough that I stuck with it to the end, I was never fully invested in the story nor did I ever come to truly care about Dante's quest.

Tight and enjoyable, even if it doesn’t take advantage of the X factor.

The first game’s take on noir was fresh and powerful; the sequel has the same haunted spirit with less surprise value. While Max Payne’s rain-soaked world is a weary one, it’s also undeniably compelling.

Levels are admirably large, but the draw-in distance is pretty dreadful, and sometimes the camera can’t keep up. The new revert move enables massive vert-to-street-to-vert combos, but the controls don’t seem super-precise.

An engaging, sometimes cerebral experience that transforms familiar genre elements and lumps in spectacular art design for a sharp single-player experience.

Yes, this is all very gory, grisly, and absolutely not for kids or anyone with a weak stomach as people are decapitated, disemboweled, perforated, shot, and chainsawed—all to the cackling delight of your offscreen savior (brilliantly voiced by Brian Cox) who relishes each kill.

It's got a good amount of polish and diehard KH fans should definitely get it. Casual fans will also find reasons to like it, even if the weird story doesn't really add up.

In all, Petroglyph did a commendable job bringing in a new faction and fresh features and units to an already enjoyable game.

Controls are as sharp as ever, and the opponent A.I. is tight.

Not to say that Crash Bash can't be played alone, but when there's a room full of people, Crash Bash suddenly becomes ten times more fun.

If you're prepared for the deliberate nature of its gameplay, Sniper Elite is a rewarding way to fight WWII from the comfort of your couch. Just keep in mind the prerequisite degree of patience.

The A.I. is much brighter, and the difficulty levels are scaled more smoothly. The controls could use a crisper auto-aim and more efficient item management, but otherwise handle great.

Despite some irritating design elements, Trouble in Paradise is a fun game that retains the charm of the first Viva Pinata. It's sort of like trying to hit an actual pinata while wearing a blindfold-you'll be frustrated at points but it's still pretty awesome.

The game itself can be addicting, as with most puzzle games. The levels and bosses in Adventure mode get naturally more difficult and thus more addicting, planting a seed of competitive I-have-to-beat-this-level nature in any puzzle game enthusiast.

If you’re looking for rowdy, raucous action backed by unusual staying power and that familiar Midway gameplay, you’ll savor the smell of what Hitz is cooking.

Pat Summerall does a good job with the play calling and the color commentary from Madden himself is amusing at times but quickly becomes repetitive.

The game is essentially a port of a decade old fighter and it can be hard as hell, but all the horsepower the PSP brings to the table can't keep this game from being at times mind-numbing frustrating when it comes to control. Put simply, the D-pad the PSP has just isn't cut out to be used for a fighting game, where fast fingers and accurate directional control is paramount.

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.

While it's pretty easy to do the minimum required to pass each checkpoint, getting special items will demand a flexible imagination that stretches far beyond simple 2D. [Sept 2005, p.81]

Thanks to the GameCube's unfriendly button layout, performing the new demanding dial-a-combos is harder than ever. Patient players, however, will uncover an almost overwhelming array of play modes and hidden features.

Despite the re-appearance of the game’s fresh visuals and unique play aspects, the lifeless narrative doesn’t provide the immersive experience that you’d expect.

Safe and insatiable, Pac-Man Collection delivers high comfort but low thrills.

The crisp graphics hold up fine on the small screen, but the music is standard, forgettable fare.

Though at times it comes across as a goofy amalgamation of NES titles, Ninja Five-O presents a highly playable and entertaining challenge.

MG2 doesn’t move the series forward far enough from its PlayStation roots, but if you’ve got a melodic itch to scratch, it’s still worth renting to make your own boogie-down productions.

Although the game won't make its competitors sweat, it will definitely make them keep an eye out for future World Tour Soccer games. [June 2004, p.86]