Once you get a game going with friends or online fodder, though, On Fire Edition shows its best side, and could easily turn "one more match" into hours spent cracking jokes and laughing at every comment the announcer makes. And for a b-ball know-nothing like me, that's more than enough justification to find yourself playing a sports game. Just don't take it too seriously.

One of the biggest surprises in Orcs and Elves is the clever game design, which keeps the game engaging and fresh.

But if you've got a choice, spring for the darker, freakier Xbox version.

It's obviously aimed squarely at the hardcore DS gamer; and while the intense action and high difficulty will probably turn off the casual crowd, it's a solid shooter for anyone who's looking for a challenge. [Sept 2008, p.84]

The learning curve is steep and takes time, but the replay value in MHF is very high as there is easily 40+ hours of fun things to do.

I expect many fans will be disappointed thanks to all of the hype that's built up around the game, but the inevitable complaints about the control scheme will be warranted. [Sep 2007, p.79]

However, don't expect too much more content than new tests and more Sudoku grids. [Sep 2007, p.80]

While it is initially daunting, Culdcept Saga is a game whose potential grows the more you play it. [May 2008, p.84]

Fans of the Conan books will likely be disappointed by the disjointed narrative and surprisingly dispassionate vocal performances, and most gamers will see the button-tapping mini-games and bare-breasted maidens as the hollow window-dressing they are, but Conan is still an agreeable diversion despite its obvious faults.

Hotel Dusk probably won't appeal to every DS gamer, as it requires a degree of patience and thoughtfulness that only the aged (and insane) are capable of. But anyone looking for a cerebral and deliberate challenge should definitely check out this cool and unique title; just be patient with it.

But despite all of the control issues, for my money, this is one of the most fun games I've played in a while.

As fun as hurling dozens of rockets at a time into a swarm of giant alien ants is, it will get boring after a few hours. If you're up for a shallow yet addictive and gratuitously violent shooter, you can't go wrong with Earth Defense Force. Just take a break every few hours and read a book to rebuild some of the higher brain function you just lost.

A fairly simple racing game with tons of extra content and options that keep the game fresh and challenging.

The cool platforming elements make this one worth at least a rental--if only so one can revisit the days when "Cowabunga" was a socially acceptable thing to say.

A solid title that boasts some amazing production values. It's single-player campaign tends towards mindless hack-and-slash gameplay and there are some noticeable slowdown flaws, but it's still offers up a good dose of fun, especially if you're looking for a dungeon crawler with a bit Final Fantasy flavor.

Turok is a solid enough shooter that won't wow you the way triple-A titles like "Call of Duty 4" or "Bioshock" will. [Mar 2008, p.85]

All in all, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law is a pretty short game and it's not terribly challenging, but for those who appreciate the humor of the series it's likely to be an enjoyable romp. [Apr 2008, p.84]

A lot of people may be turned of by the childish themes and plot, but anyone who puts real time in with the game won't be disappointed with how it plays nor with the unexpected amount of depth there is to be found.

Tremendously fun. The subtle nuances and sheer competitiveness still make it the best realistic golf experience out there. There are nagging issues that continue to get overlooked, but whether or not you've been playing the game in years past, Tiger 07 is a must-buy for cyber golfers.

But the real fun lies in the mini-games. It's just a tad unfortunate, though, that the game really doesn't have much depth besides that. Granted, it's fun to play with another person and it's cool to play through the unique Brain Massage mode. But, if you're looking for a DS game that's going to provide hours of entertainment, you'll have better luck elsewhere.

For those looking for a nostalgic adventure game experience, you'll be pleasantly surprised, at least in function. For anyone else, Touch Detective offers a quirky and off-kilter, albeit short and at times frustrating, adventure.

Battlefield, in its best moments, is one of the most perfect and pure online experiences around. It's too bad 2142 isn't a major evolution over the titles that came before it but it's entertaining enough, and as the old saying goes, you shouldn't look a gift hovertank in the mouth.

Mario Party DS is actually a pretty good Mario Party installment, but it's ultimately meant for gamers who regularly get together with their friends for some DS gaming.

Still, it's a fun title and one worth getting for the little Star Wars fanatic in your life. [Dec 2007, p.127]

2K Sports is relegated to a distant second-place, plagued by overly complicated controls, a badly designed interface, and subpar gameplay.

Phoenix Wright fans who loved the past games and want nothing more than another docket of crazy cases to tackle will no doubt love Apollo Justice. It's a solid distillation of the franchise formula and if you haven't yet had your fill, I wholly recommend the game, because you will no doubt enjoy it. But I personally couldn't get over how derivative the game felt.

The sound becomes annoying because the same track plays on loop. Trash Panic's graphics are impressive for a pretty simple downloadable game. Maybe that's why the game is more than 1GB!

New tools and enemies are introduced throughout the adventure mode's more than 80 levels, which helps keep things interesting. [Apr 2008, p.84]