Those familiar with the series are likely to feel right at home thanks to GitS's nicely designed 3d environments that appear to have been ripped straight from the TV series...In the end though it's the gameplay that matters. And in that regard Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex has come up decidedly average.

It's never a good sign when adjectives such as linear, bland and dull spring to mind after a mere 2 hours behind the pad, but that's exactly what happens here. [JPN Import]

One of my biggest annoyances when playing Drag-on Dragoon was that I couldn't save my progress in the middle of a stage. This can be frustrating if after 40 minutes of leveling up your character you die because of a silly mistake. [JPN Import]

If you're prepared for the occasionally uneven difficulty and the dark themes, Spawn: Armageddon makes a highly recommended weekend rental.

I have no difficulty recommending this one for retro gamers, as it's the best package I can recall Midway sending our way, but others might want to steer clear.

The graphics are surprisingly good and showcase exactly what the Gameboy Advance is capable of.

If SWRS3:RS were a person, I would have diagnosed it with a bi-polar disorder of some kind. Moments of sheer unbridled happiness come as quickly as they go, replaced with a gut-wrenching sadness that leaves the player feeling empty and bewildered inside.

While what's here is very good, the problem is that there are perhaps twenty seconds of original composition in the whole game! The rest just loops for all eternity, prodding you to skip past menu after menu just so you can escape the irritation of not-quite-grinding guitar and the like.

A good game with a rough exterior.