Its only real drawback might be its rather short length, as experienced gamers will probably smash through the single player levels in no time, even at the highest difficulty level but for small, bite-sized chunks of action, Empire definitely satisfies.

Tabula Rasa is a fun game, but frustrating enough that you are left with a feeling that the fun parts are mocking you from their inaccessible tower guarded by the lag monsters, poorly designed controls and the never ending kill-or-be-killed pacing.

I would love to see this title moved to a console, where the controls could be streamlined and hopefully the load times reduced. As it stands, The Witcher is an extremely fun game with the nasty habit of succumbing to narcolepsy at the most inappropriate moments.

The time travel themed story is ineffectively told and the enemy AI is rather brain-dead. You'll also face overwhelming numbers during most battles but the good thing is that your time powers provide a nice edge.

Although the game is short, it manages to stay fresh thanks to the way new areas and moves are doled out.

Viva Pinata Party Animals is squarely aimed at a specific audience populated by those that find burping hilarious and think cartoon violence and comic mischief are peak entertainment; i.e. children.

All in all, The Simpsons Game is a good effort but there are some glaring flaws that hold it back. [Dec 2007, p.129]

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

Only mildly amusing and the violence and gore gets tired after a while. If you're into movies like Eli Roth's Hostel then this game's right up your alley. But, if you're looking for a thriller with a little more substance, you might want to look elsewhere.

Battalion Wars 2 is a solid title with a hearty single player mode, a decent amount of unlockable content and a fun online component.

Guitar Hero 3 for the Wii rocks. While the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are easier on the eyes as well as the ears, the Wii version is home to the best guitar controller of the lot, features an engaging online mode, and plays just as nice.

By virtue of being around longer, the Xbox 360 has more compatibility and a larger, more cohesive community to play with. While you're still guaranteed a good time on the PS3, it's tough to truly rock out when you know there's a bigger venue to play in and a better band on the way.

Everything just screams high production values, which is pretty awesome. The song list is also impressive and features a good mix of the old and the new.

A cohesive game with the sum of all of its parts adding up to a frightening whole.

Its slick style, amazing graphics, and dark atmosphere really make it stand out.

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.

Fans of Conan will appreciate this game as much as hack-and-slash fans who've never heard of the franchise. It's a lot of fun, challenging without being frustrating and all in all, a great example of its genre.

If you own a PSP, there is no excuse for you to not own this title. [Nov 2007, p.95]

About the only shortcoming Ace Combat 6 possesses is an intimidating visage, especially if you're using the Ace Edge flight stick. This is definitely a hardcore game, not one intended for casual play given its attention to detail, simulation-style controls, and general difficulty.

What seems like the perfect game for kids is actually a challenging game for adults. Who knew? Still, Zack & Wiki is a terrific game that will stick with you for a long time.

The courtroom antics of Phoenix Wright are well worth the trip, even if the formula hasn't changed.

An amazing PS 3 game that fully leverages the power of the console. It sets the bar high for not only the series but for all PS3 games to come. It is, without a doubt, reason enough to buy the system.

We got a fair amount of play out of Prism--at times it was tough to put down--but the fact is, you won't be able to stick with it for more than a short time.

Target Liberty will only serve to frustrate even the most die hard of tactical shooter fans.

The game is also rather short, but when every outrageous environment is so chock full of goodies, and the atmosphere so relentlessly positive, it's still hard to resist playing just one more time.

Although it's leaning in a good direction, Music Jam could've used some more rehearsal.

My initial enthusiasm for the game quickly waned and was snuffed out as I realized that there wasn't much content to the game as the game is limited to just two modes: Tournament and Exhibition.

Despite the multiplayer lack, it's fun enough taking turns on puzzles that you can play it with friends anyways.