There are far more intelligent investments to be made in the rapidly enhancing game market.

Enchanted Arms is a completely standard RPG with some charming gameplay and plot elements that make it slightly better than average.

It’s a hard, fun, and fulfilling finale to one of the better RPG epics out there. It may not have the workings of a classic like Xenogears on the PlayStation, but it legitimately tries to offer that same blend of religion, psychology, and mythological stories that make the gamer ask questions instead of just sit there like a vegetable taking it in.

While the game has a lot of solid concepts, a ton of stages, and some pretty good “boss” fights, (if you even want to call them that) the game sadly suffers from a horrible camera and just annoying challenge; and in the end, the experience isn’t memorable by any means.

It offers nothing but frustration and disappointment. The gameplay is shallow and won’t hold your interest or keep you entertained for more than a few minutes.

ProStroke Golf could have a bright future, if they would address the technical issues and bring the presentation up to par. As it stands, the game is worth a shot, but it may not hold your interest for very long.

The entire world of Saints Row hinges on gang activity while "GTA" only uses it as a stepping stone to reach the upper echelons of organized crime.

The strategy is a welcome touch with the game’s fantastic controls and nice use of the touch screen. If you want a game that makes use of most of the DS’ key features, this is the game for you.

We’d rather view Dragon’s Lair through the rose-colored glasses of reminiscence and leave the reality of its lame gameplay squarely behind us.

If you’re more inclined to pick up one of the older console versions, we’d recommend the PlayStation 2 version because its controller is probably the most user-friendly, and it has a connectivity feature with the PSP that allows you to transfer an entire season in Franchise Mode from the PS2 into your PSP.

The Xbox 360 version offers the best presentation out of all these games, quite simply because it probably has the best announcer of all—and his name isn’t John Madden or Al Michaels. He remains unnamed, but he’s one of those homer-types that we can all live to enjoy.

Simply put, it’s everything you expect--another year of football with another year of Madden.

So if you’re more inclined to pick up one of the older console versions, we’d recommend the PlayStation 2 version because its controller is probably the most user-friendly, and it has a connectivity feature with the PSP that allows you to transfer an entire season in Franchise Mode from the PS2 into your PSP.

Simply put, it's everything you expect--another year of football with another year of Madden.

Simply put, it's everything you expect--another year of football with another year of Madden.

Dirge of Cerberus is an average action game with a bigger budget than it deserved. Maybe this experience will teach them not to milk franchises in ways they don’t belong.

A game with a niche concept and levels of simplicity that border on patronizing at times.

A great game that has some hampering issues in its gameplay; things that shouldn’t be a problem, like the save system, cheap bosses, and dumber than a stump partner A.I. All that aside, though, Dead Rising is a fantastic game that strays far enough away from the moody style Resident Evil has stapled in the zombie genre.

But a game 4 years late is a game 4 years old, and strategy-RPG players can find more intriguing fare available for the GBA.

Even if you don't like Hyper Fighting, one can justify the purchase just because it will help convince Capcom to bring better stuff, perhaps stuff like Super Street Fighter II Turbo and Street Fighter Alpha 2, to the Live Arcade service.

The game’s multiplayer and online modes would make it the perfect game for a group of friends to gather and bash each other for a while. If you can overcome the difficulty level of the single player campaign, and think that the demolition derby and quirky stunt modes would be your cup of tea, do not hesitate to pick this title up.

While the game has a lot of solid concepts, a ton of stages, and some pretty good “boss” fights, (if you even want to call them that) the game sadly suffers from a horrible camera and just annoying challenge; and in the end, the experience isn’t memorable by any means.

While the game has a lot of solid concepts, a ton of stages, and some pretty good "boss" fights, (if you even want to call them that) the game sadly suffers from a horrible camera and just annoying challenge; and in the end, the experience isn't memorable by any means.

But the fun of Summon Night: Swordcraft Story is feeling that sense of learning alongside the main character. Though we ultimately know he will win the day, he won't do it without us.

The greatest handheld fighter ever developed, by a mile.

A great addition to an already phenomenal computer game. It makes one of the most addictive games on the market that much more engaging.

Overall CivCity feels unbalanced and rather short for a game of this genre.

If you're looking for an engaging, unique RPG with a great battle system and an enjoyable story, you can't go wrong with Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth.

The presentation of the game is damn near perfect, and that also happens to be the case with the game’s audio.

The Xbox 360 version stands tall among other collegiate sports games on the console.

Even the PSP version is online, but there is some noticeable lag with the game, but it really doesn’t kill the gameplay at all.

Get your arcade sticks out, kids, this one's for real.

The presentation of the game is damn near perfect, and that also happens to be the case with the game's audio.

Prey is worth playing for its striking technology and story, and what they bring to the gameplay. It’s too bad that the impressive moments had to be separated by monotony, but that doesn’t make them any less extraordinary when they happen.

Prey is worth playing for its striking technology and story, and what they bring to the gameplay. It’s too bad that the impressive moments had to be separated by monotony, but that doesn’t make them any less extraordinary when they happen.

A great game for anyone who enjoys The Lord of the Rings, fantasy, strategy games, or Xbox Live. It’s a surprisingly well ported game that really shouldn’t play anywhere near as good as it does.

It doesn’t offer the personality or adjustable details we’re used to in its predecessors, but it’s nicely balanced and a big package, with over two dozen campaign scenarios and endless sandbox recreation.

A very average game. Sluggish controls and a lackluster presentation really hurt this game. The lack of real mission variety doesn’t help matters either.

Titan Quest fits the bill for a solid action RPG that gives you what you'd expect but nothing beyond it. It seems content enough to be big, and if you like Diablo-inspired games, you'll get what you'd expect from an isometric role-playing title based in ancient Greece.

Night Watch has some nice ideas, but it's too simple at its core to remain interesting, and falls into a rut just a few hours after it starts.

It takes a hell of a long time to complete one season in this game, and it takes a lot longer with the PS2’s load times.

There are a lot of great ideas in NFL Head Coach, but quite a few of them aren't executed to perfection.

There are a lot of great ideas in NFL Head Coach, but quite a few of them aren’t executed to perfection.

Wartime strategy fans will enjoy the gameplay, but if you’re into the subject matter, Rush for Berlin is the better option. A few great maps make Red Siege occasionally enjoyable, however, so if you’re looking for a short RTS with a minimum of economic fuss, take a look—just be wary of its limitations.

To put it simply, Street Fighter Alpha Anthology is what you would expect; a complete, comprehensive presentation of the Street Fighter Alpha series. In other words, it will give you some good fighting times, while never representing either the best or the worst of Capcom's work in the genre.

Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War is a great experiment but a mediocre game, too broken to be enjoyable for any length of time.

It’s surprisingly inventive, filled with a ton of destruction and explosions, and overcomes its old-hat wartime premise with a durable mix of complexity and fun.

MotoGP 06 is an excellent progression for the series. Fans that have been playing the previous games will have no trouble getting into this one.

If this is going to be your first GTA game you may want to skip this outing and start at the beginning of the GTA revolution, that being the Grand Theft Auto III.

Don't be expecting one of those RPG's like Buu's Fury though, this is Dragon Ball the way you first expected it to be-full-on action, and it's pretty good considering that this is the first side-scrolling Dragon Ball game released in the states.

Unlike Brain Age, Big Brain Academy was probably actually developed to be a game. Big Brain Academy doesn’t have all the nuances and support from neuroscientists and other simply brainy things, but in the end—the goal is the same.

Despite the familiarity of City Life’s gameplay, the social element is fresh enough to make it an easy recommendation, despite any political overtones it may carry. If you are a city building fan or just have time to kill until Sim City 5 is released, City Life is a good choice, thanks to its easygoing nature and appealing structure.

The action itself is matchless amongst modern first-person shooters. In fact, it feels even more urgent now, since Valve has tightened the reigns on puzzle-solving.

Newcomers should not be fazed by the fact that Blood Money is the fourth installment in the Hitman series, as it offers enough diversity and charm to keep you hooked until the climatic ending.

Though it might be lacking in game modes, what is there is done so well that it will keep you playing despite the lack of a drawn out Career Mode.

It’s worth getting a DS, that’s for sure. But if you’re one of those junkies that doesn’t pay full price for a game because it hardly makes use of the system’s “capabilities”, then fine; be that junky.

With a less slapdash campaign and tighter AI, it could have been great, but even now, Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends is worth playing—just not legendary.

Guild Wars Factions not only gives longtime fans a taste of something new, but it allows newcomers to jump right in and start playing.

An undeniable effort. It can be fulfilling and mightily rewarding, but there are too many frustrating moments to say it’s a classic.

The $30 price tag, combined with the huge pile of content added, makes this a must-own for racing fans, Sega fans, or people just looking for a great arcade racer to add to their gaming library. OutRun2006 perfectly fits the definition of a sleeper hit.

The $30 price tag, combined with the huge pile of content added, makes this a must-own for racing fans, Sega fans, or people just looking for a great arcade racer to add to their gaming library. OutRun2006 perfectly fits the definition of a sleeper hit.

A decidedly old-school design keeps it from entering the ranks of today’s great shooters, but it does well what it sets out to do: give us visceral action in dark environments.

The $30 price tag, combined with the huge pile of content added, makes this a must-own for racing fans, Sega fans, or people just looking for a great arcade racer to add to their gaming library.

It is also the most convenient form in which FFXI has ever been offered; you don't have a hard drive to buy (unless you got stuck with a core system), and all your expansions come in the same box.

It's filled with enough nuance, emotion, and charm to be an instance classic-and with better, more difficult puzzles, could have surpassed the original from every angle.

With NeoWave as a clear-cut highlight of the KOF franchise, SNK is practically giving it away at the $19.99 price point. Snap it up.

It’s filled with enough nuance, emotion, and charm to be an instance classic—and with better, more difficult puzzles, could have surpassed the original from every angle.

If you’re looking for a game to replace "World of Warcraft" or "Everquest" for your long-term fix, Auto Assault won’t fill the abyss. However, if you’re looking for an action-packed MMO to last you a month or so, it’s a decent change of pace.

Anyone desperately eager to play the episodic follow-up to Out From Boneville should certainly dive into this one. But, by all means, expect better.

If anything, Legend succeeds in assuaging frustration. Puzzles never encroach on the aggravation of yester incarnations due to a RAD (“Remote Analysis Device”) that identifies objects of note. It’s reminiscent of Grim Fandango in the sense that you’re not left to hunt around wildly for the key elements in a conundrum.

The changes Crystal Dynamics have affected means it’s easily the most polished, well-rounded package of the seven.

If anything, Legend succeeds in assuaging frustration. Puzzles never encroach on the aggravation of yester incarnations due to a RAD (“Remote Analysis Device”) that identifies objects of note. It’s reminiscent of "Grim Fandango" in the sense that you’re not left to hunt around wildly for the key elements in a conundrum.

The game is almost identical to its Xbox/PS2 counterpart. While this is not a death sentence, you would expect an Xbox 360 game to have more of that “next gen” feel.

If anything, Legend succeeds in assuaging frustration. Puzzles never encroach on the aggravation of yester incarnations due to a RAD (â??Remote Analysis Deviceâ?) that identifies objects of note. Itâ??s reminiscent of "Grim Fandango" in the sense that youâ??re not left to hunt around wildly for the key elements in a conundrum.

Keepsake isn't simply forgettable—it's just plain bad, trampling on sacred narrative ground with insipid characters, putrid voice acting, and brain-dead storytelling.

ÜberSoldier looks great and is filled to the brim with excitement. It’s not a game you play for the story: it’s one you play because it’s fun.

We like Daemonica for its refreshing variations on tired themes, and a sincere attempt to introduce a nifty potion-mixing element into its chilling story.

Kingdom Hearts 2 provides the most engrossing and polished gameplay experience available on the PS2, with enough variety to please any gamer and keep them entranced many hours past the ending.

All in all, Far Cry Instincts and Evolution are two games worth playing. If you haven’t played the Xbox version, you should definitely think about getting it for the 360.

But not even building an empire can keep Dynasty Warriors 5 from feeling archaic and shallow. We've been doing this same thing for something like ten games in a row now.

Yet to those who love roleplaying and fishing equally, River King is a must-have title. To those enlightened souls, I say this: Carpe Diem!

If you have Instincts for the Xbox and wouldn't mind playing an original Xbox game, save yourself $30 and get Evolution. Both games are great and are worth at least a rental. If you've yet to experience Far Cry, though, it's worth a purchase.

What makes Space Rangers 2 so successful, even beyond its addictive “one more turn” exploration and trade, is that it delivers a constant stream of surprises.

It really is baffling that EA kept The Godfather as it is. What with all the repetition involved in finishing the game, you’d have thought someone would have piped in: “Uh, you know, it gets kinda boring repeating the same mechanics over and over”.

A $20 ride of immense frustration. It’s true that proceedings become more interesting as you progress, but this feeling of general improvement might be down to the fact that you’re aware the end is ever closer.

In most cases, Karaoke Revolution is only enjoyable when drunk. So if you’re drunk, you’ll have a great time with Karaoke Revolution Country. But if you’re sober, you better be a fan of country if you’re going to pick this one up.

The standard has been set, and it’s been set ridiculously high. Whether it’s the fantastic production values or its nearly flawless gameplay mechanics, we couldn’t be happier with Oblivion.

The standard has been set, and it’s been set ridiculously high. Whether it’s the fantastic production values or its nearly flawless gameplay mechanics, we couldn’t be happier with Oblivion.

Tetris may not push new boundaries or explore the violent side of Wifi competition, but who needs a plasma gun for fragging when armed with a four-long Tetrimino?

This is probably the best first person shooter you’ll ever play on a handheld. Then again that may not sit will with Metroid purists given the series roots as an adventure title.

Initially the control scheme seems overly complicated; extended play reveals it’s anything but, with the game often verging on the easy side.

The new control scheme is great and needs to be implemented for more third-person action games that seem to feel hindered by whatever control scheme they think they should use.

With the non-existent load times and simple, but rewarding controls, this game feels like it’s been made with the idea of what handheld games need while not ignoring the presentation that the console-like power can provide

Even if this is your second, third, fourth, or even your fifth time playing the game, the new camera angle adds a lot of freshness to the single player campaign. Not just that, but the online multiplayer is really amazing and it is clearly one of the best the PS2 has yet to get on the service.

There is definitely a market for The Outfit, with its fast action and (initially) interesting premise, but it has neither the raw staying power nor the type of epic presence needed to grab and keep the average gamer for long periods of time.

If you have a passing interest in guns, military, the near future, Mexico, or good games, this is a must-own on all accounts. This is the first real system seller for the Xbox 360 and it’s safe to say it’s the first real game of the year candidate.

It's got some nice touches, but in the end, it's too buggy, too cliched, and too uninteresting to come to the head of its class.

Pursuit Force isn’t an incredibly unique experience, but it is a lot of fun.