DK: Jungle Climber is arguably more of what we saw in King of Swing, but with updated graphics. For those who felt that game was already a one-trick pony, it may be an undesirable sequel, but tons of hard-to-reach collectibles, unlockable mini-games, and four-player downloadable battles will keep the rest of us honing our skills for hours.

The feel of parody is gone; rather than being a wild action game based on hockey, this year’s edition is a hockey game with some wild action.

Offers no major surprises but plenty of refinements to a proven formula. It’s a major improvement over the first game.

Is RSG worth downloading? If you read everything above and it sounds intriguing to you, then yes, absolutely. If this doesn't sound like the sort of shooter you're looking for, you might want to think it over for a bit before committing to a purchase.

If Black was created to produce an adrenaline-induced euphoria of maddening guns going wild, then it is a total success. In the sequel, as the end of the story sets up, let's hope the AI is improved and includes at least some type of multiplayer.

With plenty of gameplay modes, secret fighters, and varied styles, there’s a good chunk of replay value here.

Despite some clunky combat, Blair Witch Volume 1: Rustin Parr is a delightfully spooky game with some clever puzzles and well worth the twenty bucks.

A platformer with more than just jumping and crawling around, though it can get tiring for those looking for a more fast-paced adventure.

Talk about full-featured-Big Bang Mini is a $19.99 package that is hard to pass up.

Hardcore fans are going to be on automatic and get it right away, but it's a tough situation for the average fighting fan.

This is one solidly constructed action game that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's called "camp" man. Check it out. [Mar 2002, p.98]

If "serious" is the last thing you associate with hockey games, you'll have a blast hammering out checks on Hitz’ rink - especially since Midway’s rolled back the price a notch.

This game can be nail-bitingly suspenseful as you have no radar or warning system of any sort, and never know when or from where enemies pop out and peg you in the head.

Definitely a huge step in the right direction with all the improvements it offers. I would've liked more of a true story mode, like we've seen in the console versions or in the Stories series. And at times, I was reverting back to the mundane "eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep, work" cycle that I thought we'd be done with by now (though this micromanaging is way more streamlined now). But The Sims 3 allows players to play the way they truly want, way more than they ever were able to do before.

It’s good fun for gunslingers who have strong stomachs and who can separate fantasy from reality, but with its average graphics and watery story, Soldier is notable only for its amazingly…um…interactive violence and its place as one of the few semi-realistic shooters for the Dreamcast.

It should come as no surprise that THAW is well endowed with generously sized, multilayered domains for which to carry out all your skating aggression--half-pipes, quarter-pipes, pools, wires, rails, and so much more are in abundant supply.

Even without the board, though, I'd recommend Shaun White's Wii adventure over his less impressive 360 and PS3 treks. It's a tighter, more polished experience that puts the focus on fun over the other entries' ambitious, but not always rewarding free-roaming gameplay.

But these flaws can't keep Trails in check for too long. The game delivers a lot of what JRPG fans want -- a long, epic story (which, it should be noted, doesn't end with this game), lots of fun dialogue, and an engaging combat engine -- and does so in a charming, enjoyable fashion. It might be a crowded market on the platform, but Trails in the Sky manages to soar well above many of its peers.

Ape Escape 3 runs smoothly and is worth your hard earned dollar. [Mar 2006, p.79]

Batman: Arkham Asylum doesn't quite deliver on all of its big ideas, and thus dodges the highest of accolades, but its rousing peaks make its low points more than bearable. Its best moments of dazzling showmanship easily qualify as must-see entertainment, even if they're not sufficient to make the game as a whole a must-play.

Skate 2 does have a lot to offer but it falls short in a lot of ways. Its realistic feel is great when it comes to technical aspects like tricks and controls but it's taken one step too far. [Mar 2009, p.79]

Puzzle Dimension feels like the old fashioned cousin of Ilomilo, a similarly Swedish spatial puzzler. Its charming retro aesthetic and upbeat chiptune soundtrack give it a nostalgic vibe, while its absence of story and punishing difficulty recall the puzzle games of yesteryear. It's not going to convert non-fans of the genre and its score system is negligible for all but the most die-hard fans, but the actual puzzle design is fiendishly clever, and plentiful to boot.

May be repetitive, overwrought, and fraught with unimaginative puzzles and enemies, but those of you dying for some bloody GameCube fun won't get it much better than this.

While the game immerses you in an enormous, compelling saga, its sheer complexity will scare off all but the most dedicated space-combat aces.

Fortunately for Spy Hunter, the control problems rarely get in the way of a good time.

Can be tedious in one-player mode, but it's clearly intended for multiplayer fun. Although it's the only party game for Dreamcast, Sonic Shuffle deals a great hand for all to play.

Despite some flaws, Rakulls is the best kind of downloadable title -- a humorous game with elements from well-designed classics, but integrated with a modern touch.

GGX’s solid and responsive control scheme keeps the fighting exciting, although some moves are difficult to execute and require patience to master fully…if at all.