As you'd expect, there's a wealth of new characters to meet, and over a hundred challenging new quests to complete. Whether you're an Imperial stooge, a Rebel troublemaker, or an independent freelancer, there's more than enough to keep you busy.

A huge, huge improvement over the last few wretched Tomb Raider titles. Prince of Persia fans should definitely take note.

Throw in a slightly Euro-trash sound track (with excellent play-by-play commentary) and a consistent and fluid control scheme and FIFA 06 is a great way for soccer fans to hook up for some foot-to-foot action via the online infrastructure mode or some solo season play.

Finally, it is possible for trainers to meet friends online and battle others around the world via the DS' Wi-Fi. There are also competitions that incorporate acting, singing, and dressing up the little critters in costumes.

But while the game's storyline is focused on a far-reaching conflict, Frontlines ultimately succeeds because of all the attention that the developers paid to the small stuff.

There is more running back and forth than I would like but I still enjoyed the Unwound Future. It's a terrific title for fans of the franchise.

The unique blend of wonderfully bizarre settings and enemies make Death Jr.'s return a fresh gaming experience. It's "Nightmare Before Christmas" meets "Alice in Wonderland." Prepare yourself for one crazy trip.

It's faster and nastier than most of the kindred of "Resident Evil" at the cost of losing a bit of edge. [May 2004, p.71]

Some frustrating A.I., however, causes Shrek 2 to suffer badly as a single-player game (or any time the computer controls a party member), and switching between the characters to overcome the menial obstacles feels like a chore when playing solo. [Aug 2004, p.68]

Offers true harmony between arcade and simulation football games, but with more attitude than both of them put together. Oh, and it’s fun, too.

Putting is harder, but much more rewarding--an Ideal Putt Camera helps with gauging potential break on difficult putts.

Marble games aren't everyone's idea of a thrilling adventure, but Marble Saga: Kororinpa may very well sneak up and show the curious a good time.

The excellent tracks alone are worth a look.

Ghost Recon’s in-depth gameplay closely resembles that of the previous Tom Clancy games—but it also has its faults, such as some weak A.I. pathfinding.

These complaints aside, Final Fantasy II is yet another great addition to the PSP's slowly improving library and really shows off the care and attention that Square Enix puts into its remakes. [Aug 2007, p.88]

This game require real patience. There's no way to speed through long-distance trips, so it pays to keep a magazine handy (psst, you're holding one).

True to the game's title, MX vs. ATV Alive is a game competing against itself. On one hand, you've got an amazing experience that any racing fan should check out -- it's truly the realization of a series that has been refined to near-perfection over the last half-dozen years. On the other hand, the game's pricing strategy has created a bit of an uneven value in which the available content is too lean for beginners to keep racing, especially if they're unable to go online. Fortunately, the game's positives are currently outpacing the negatives, and THQ's ability to create constant, quality DLC at a fair price can only widen the gap even further.

RF Online delivers an MMO that focuses more on battles and less on stories and quests. For those who lust after solid plots and definitive quests, they can stick to their "World of Warcraft" and "Final Fantasy XI." For those who just want to log on and kick butt, RF Online is the prescription for you.

With an uncharted single-player mission and a set of cool new weapons and demonic abilities, Doom 3 fans have another motherboard-melting adventure on their hands.

Take the time to learn the nuances and you will be suitably rewarded.

While the game’s levels offer plenty of freedom, TransWorld Snowboarding itself sticks close to the established trail.

The only downer to this great game, however, is that you’re allowed to leave a dead SEAL behind, which in real life would never happen.

Controlling your fighter can become a difficult chore as the characters often feel sluggish and almost unresponsive in heated bouts where quickly moving CPU characters always seem to have the advantage.

Despite the novel ideas, Billy is, at its heart, a fairly normal platformer...but with Sonic Team at the helm, you really can't go wrong.

With NHL 06, EA Sports is revisiting its roots to create a feature-stable game with both style and substance, and it all starts with the controls. Quite simply, they are the most responsive ever. [Oct 2005, p.102]

Painful level grinding aside, Dragon Quest V is a fantastic, innovative experience.

Kain’s modus operandi of grim human slaughter is so distressingly delightful.

With three well-balanced races and a variety of missions and units, Dogs of War offers a compelling playing experience.