Bomberman is the rare game that feels as natural after a round of Uno as it does after a Gears of War deathmatch. The action could come a bit quicker, but when it does, it's still a thrill after all these years.

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.

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.

Some lazily designed levels and trite puzzles keep Fox's first planetside excursion from being the classic it could have been.

Ultimately, I think MoH is an interesting attempt to address war in a respectful way, and it should find its niche as a legitimate alternative for gamers who don't want to jump on the Call of Duty bandwagon.

Dragon Quest IX is like a classic car that's been recently restored: There might be some new stuff under the hood and additional bells and whistles, but it's still the same vehicle from years ago. That's not entirely a bad thing. Dragon Quest's appeal lies in its sense of warm, welcoming familiarity.

Still, Dungeons has enough humor and variety to overcome its shortcomings, and the campaign throws enough curve balls at the player to make up for its strategic shallowness. It could have better pacing and a little more variety, but as it is, Dungeons is a very witty, very enjoyable surprise.

Still, Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors offers a unique blend of game genres that coalesce together into an interesting game experience. [Mar 2008, p.84]

The resulting relaunched game is worthy of its weighty legacy. "NBA Street" has a better all-around arcade-style game, but if all you care about are big dunks and big points, NBA Jam will deliver you to highlight heaven.

There’s nothing particularly special here for classic TV fans, but classic shooter fans will find a battle worth fighting.

Is PGR 3 the best racing game ever? Not quite, but it sure stands out as the most visually captivating. Even if you aren't a racing fan, the game is worth a try, just to see the Xbox 360 flexing its muscle.

If you have the patience to play a methodical strategy game wrapped around an action game facade then Acid 2 is for you. However, if you prefer direct control of your characters and disdain sorting through decks of cards then you're better off checking out the home console versions of the Metal Gear series.

Although you have great control over the type of swing, the swing meter takes some getting used to, and its speed often seems arbitrary.

Even though it's slightly hampered by some clunky presentation, Blue Dragon Plus is still intuitive, interesting, and has enough character and charm to set itself apart as an engaging SRPG.

Far from the best entry in the "Resident Evil" series but is an entertaining fright-night nonetheless.

Even if you don't own a 3D TV, there's value in this high-definition makeover -- even for those who've already played both Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta. At the very least, the reasonably priced Origins pack should make the wait for God of War IV (of whatever the next God of War incarnation is) more bearable for fans of the series. Plus, now you can own all five God of War titles (not including the non-iOS cell phone game, Betrayal) on the PS3.

Wallace & Gromit: The Last Resort is a bit tougher than Telltale's usual adventure offerings, but if you're up for the challenge, this is one of the more quirky and adorable games in the developer's lineup.

Once the action's underway, however, ESPN NHL is old school all the way in its approach to passing and skating, but it offers the most extensive array of moves, and everything just handles butter-smooth. For sheer playability, its controls rule.

It's a sweet package for your permanent library, bu tif you've played any earlier version and aren't a Tony junkie, you can get by with a rental to check out the new stuff.

The campaign mode, however, does sport enemies with better A.I. that make the missions much tougher this time around. [Sept 2004, p.83]

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.

A creative stab at reclaiming the essence of hog; if it only had a little more faith in its own clever idea, it probably would have broken the sound barrier.

Will only get better. And while it might not be the best WoW expansion, what it has done is helped make World of Warcraft a much better experience for beginners, while providing more than enough to keep its hardcore fans happy.

For some shooting action with a twist, Cannon Spike is a ripping good time.

It's outlandishly short (10 hours if you're good), the controls take getting used to, and the multiplayer mode's limited to only two players, but the whole of Baldur's Gate is still far greater than the sum of its parts.

Endless variations on battles and the ability to customize characters make this game a good value for serious fans. People looking for less involvement and hack-and-slash may want to rent or avoid this title altogether.

Has just enough new features and improvements to make it the best Hot Shots game yet. [Nov 2004, p.140]

Offers a great mix of easy accessibility, straightforward style, and pants-wetting excitement.