It's so hard not to like Crisis Core because it does so many things right. [Apr 2008, p.76]

It exhibits the same sense of polish and depth that made the original Tiberium Wars such a classic.

No online multiplayer! Not like we generally expect that from Wii games, but we should be able to by now.

It's done a great job of balancing fun animation and serious gameplay.

You have to wonder if games like this are best left to the Wii. As consoles become more sophisticated so should the games.

An even larger frustration, though, is everyone's inability to recover lobs. In most tennis games, if you hustle you can often find some way to smack the ball back over the net, even if it's behind you. Here your characters just give up even if you are clearly within a reasonable rescue range.

When you come right down to it, though, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 succeeds thanks to its amazing co-op, carefully balanced gameplay and memorable setting.

Only Stephen Hawking and a few select Nobel Prize winners will ever unlock the 100% Brain Usage Achievement. Load mechanical pencils in your pocket protector and tape those glasses because Brain Challenge lives up to its name.

This game was meant to be played with four players instead of two, but considering how much fun you get for the price, you shouldn't be deterred from buying it.

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.

The writing is solid and engaging and the setting is fun and different but the adventure and platforming elements are completely average.

Nanostray 2 will definitely please hardcore arcade shooter fans, but the increased difficulty may narrow the game's mainstream appeal. [Mar 2008, p.86]

There's no doubt that Wild Arms XF is best left for hardcore fans of the series who will probably be more forgiving of the game's faults; the rest of you should look elsewhere for your tactical RPG fix.

Imperium Romanum has some significant problems - it's a buggy mess, has horrible combat mechanics, and doesn't really get across what the problems with your city is - but in spite of these problems there is still a good amount of fun to be had.

From the fighting mechanics to roster of players Brawl is a well-rounded game that I just couldn't put down. The only downside to Brawl is that it doesn't do anything to reinvent the series. It takes elements of past SSB games and refines them, which is great, but players expecting an entirely new experience won't find it here.

If you're playing alone, or looking for a competitive online rampage, Army of Two teeters between middling fun and frustration, but if you take the time to give the meaty co-op component its due you'll find yourself sucked in by one of the few gun-obsessed romps worth playing through again and again.

The best PSP title I've ever played.

It's disappointing really because Bully offers incredibly entertaining gameplay that's worthwhile, but the improvements that should have come with the jump to the more powerful Xbox 360 hardware just don't pan out.

If not for the wretched controls, it would be a perfect first-time RTS game for the younger crowd. As it stands though, it's too frustrating for both veterans and beginners.

Soulstorm is certainly not a bad expansion pack, but time has certainly conspired against it. Being released almost four years after the base game much of the game is showing its legs, especially in the graphics department.

Ninja Reflex is a fun rental. But if you decide to shell out full price for a collection of repetitive mini-games, you need a lesson in spending, my son.

Between the cute 2-D graphics, the comfortable, nostalgic soundtrack, and the super addictive "Just one level further!!" game flow, my wander-lust is on full blast. Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer is a great way to dip a toe in the rogue like pool.

It's cute, fun, and for some extra whimsy it gives you a daily fortune reading as well. At twenty dollars, this game should be selling like crazy.

This is a quick game, and beating it feels like being dumped by someone you were just about to break up with: you tell yourself you'll just beat one more level and all of a sudden, it's over.

Just try and get the catchy "pata-pata-pata-PON!" chant out of your head once you've given this game a try. You won't be able to do it.

Hardcore Naruto fans who are subject to long road trips will manage to squeeze a few hours of fun out of Ninja Destiny. All others should apply their stealthy skills elsewhere in gaming's vast stable of ninja titles.

Even with the odd original game in the mix, these still aren't the type of things you want to do everyday - especially with the lame scoring system.

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.