There are a few stunning moments (i.e., the whole train sequence), but in the end there simply isn't anything innovative about the single player game.

As an Action-RPG the storyline is outstanding, but the gameplay falls a bit short. This is primarily due to how overly easy the game is. You can run through the entire game using nothing more than the basic attack button, and your assistant characters suffer from poor AI.

Most of it feels brought over from last year's model, and not touched up enough to really appeal like it should. It feels more like a ground-rule double than a line drive.

It's definitely entertaining and the game carries the GTA vibe well, but with very little story, it degenerates into a mindless blast fest that, while fun for a little while, loses its mustard the longer you play.

The combat is just as good, if not better, and the graphics are beautiful given the platform and its limitations, but some of these extra modes, such as Tales of Souls and Chronicles of the Sword aren't so hot, and the AI is at times cheaper than my grandma.

Sly Cooper's first adventure may be years old, but it still deserves to steal attention from you.

There's not much to differentiate Viewtiful Joe 2 from the first, as new VFX power and the ability to switch characters mid-level are the only major gameplay changes. That's why it is so disappointing that the new powers are so limited and under-utilized.

The game suffers from things like a simplified feeling in terms of the ability to develop the characters, poor music choice, and lack of updated graphics.

The interesting aspects such as buying houses, marriage, and trading with merchants will keep you entertained. However, with four years of development, it boggles the mind to think that the developers couldn't come up with a more involving story, better character development and length.

Be warned: Even with an easy arcade mode, dedicated to casual or beginner drivers, the large bulk of this title is dedicated to hardcore perfectionists who really want a realistic feel for driving high-performance cars at top speeds.

Unfortunately, if you've never played it before, it really is a chore to get into because the training can be extremely boring and the setup convoluted. However, as the old saying goes, you can't complain too much about something that's free!

Mowing over bodies with a lawnmower, decapitating them with hedge clippers, and knocking them over with bowling balls is immensely entertaining and worth the price of admission...But be warned! While Dead Rising isn't a difficult game to complete, its boring escort missions/fetch quests (as well as the single player game's strict adherence to the schedule) make it less than stellar.

While Path of Radiance is a top notch RPG, it hardly takes advantage of the GameCube at all. The gameplay is identical to the GBA games in the series, the improvement in visuals isn't very impressive, and there's little to no voice work.

The game's fun for the most part, especially when it comes to unlocking and customizing characters from the epic trilogy, but I'm really turned off by some of the confusing puzzles as well as the cheap AI.

What it lacks is something truly different to make it a worthwhile sequel to own. Perhaps Gearbox will take their time with their next chapter for the 360 and give us something truly spectacular.

This is one of the few science fiction themed games on the MMORPG genre and worth playing for experienced gamers who are looking for a break from fantasy games. Casual gamers should consider their options carefully.

While the gameplay is solid, the Total Punch Control is still no match for the reliability of the digital pad, and the game lacks the "Just one more match" appeal that makes other sports games shine.

Did you get a chance to play "Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour" on the GameCube? If you liked that game, prepare to fall in love with this one.

Although the game has some very nice quirks and touches, it fails to provide a strong, engaging experience. The rewards of running a successful studio aren't worth the patience and frustrations involved.

I didn't find it nearly as engaging as Insomniac's latest "Ratchet and Clank," as it came up a bit short in the fun department.

Let's note one real missing item from this year's product- the ESPN license. This was a crucial addition to the 2K Sports title last year, as it allowed for an exquisite TV-like presentation and some of the best announcing in the business.

The gameplay is marred by the unforgiving AI that brutally destroys you whenever you gain just the slightest advantage. With that being said, Def Jam is at times more stressful than fun to play.

This may be the weakest console edition of the game on the market, but it's still recommended for those who still have it hooked up and ready to go.

New school gamers may be turned off by the simple play mechanics, 2D graphics, and intense challenge, but old school fans know this is THE holiday title to buy.

If Test Drive Unlimited were a car, it would probably be a nice, leisurely ride without too many fancy gimmicks- maybe a Scion without the oddly-shaped frame.

It's also cool that Legends' features over 20 hours of gameplay, but its length is also one of its weaknesses, because over time it just gets boring beating up enemies.

Although the graphics could have been smoothed out a little bit, and the game could've used some sort of extra goodies like multiplayer or more playable characters, Thief: Deadly Shadows remains a remarkably deep game, thanks to an excellent story, some great presentation quirks, and quite simply some of the most challenging stealth aspects around.

Even though, at its core, Metal Arms isn't too different from most other run 'n gun games, the variety of mission types keeps this title from getting old.

If you're a fan of FPS, and you haven't already, give it a try. Just don't start doing pushups in your basement.

The levels are all extremely repetitive, and the graphics are sub par. But if you love Simpson's trivia, this is definitely chalk full of it.

While it's certainly fun to play and one of the few reasons (currently) to even bother with the Nintendo DS, it just doesn't feel all that special.

The gameplay's solid, but the story's disposable, the music's forgettable, and everything is just a bit too easy.

The graphics are dated, and the game could've easily been done on the original PlayStation. Still, graphics don't make a game, and Phantom Brave more than makes up for it in gameplay.

The game definitely oozes cool and the special effects are top notch, and although the combat does become repetitive, the enormous amount of skills you can collect, missions to embark upon, four-player deathmatch via Xbox Live, and Phantom Dust's $19.99 price tag make it a must buy for those of you looking for a different kind of experience that's normally found on the PS2.

While AoE III fails to bring a great deal of new content, it does a great job of summing up the last couple years of strategy and combining it with the look and feel of the RTS titles of yesteryear.

A couple of its core additions, namely its "shape stick" and its other glaring issues, bring it up short. That's not to say you won't have fun with it, though. Rivals Mode is more than worth the price of admission.

It's not that the story mode isn't deep or won't provide you with a good time if you've never experienced anything like it, but for those of us who have, it's about as dry as an overcooked piece of chicken.

The thrill of running towards an army and decimating it is enhanced by the insane amount of characters on screen, the impressive graphics, and the sweet metal soundtrack.

While it improves the overall Sims 2 game significantly, the "university" aspect is disappointing and very short-lived.

Despite a rather startling difficulty increase in worlds 5 and 6, the initial six worlds can be cleared in just a few days of regular playing. Thankfully, the game isn't nearly as brief as it initially seems.

While this is a great pinball game and the Pokemon characters are an interesting bunch, I wish there was a bit more to differentiate this title from its predecessor.

It's simply that the fighting aspects of the game remain very similar to "MK: Deadly Alliance," which caters to a casual market. The extra modes of Puzzle Kombat, Chess Kombat, online play, and Konquest certainly add a great deal to the title, but if you didn't like Deadly Alliance, chances are you won't like Deception either.

The new paths you can take, as well as the free wireless adapters that open the door for new ways to communicate and play with others, really make these solid additions, especially for those who missed the Pokemon craze several years ago.

Loaded with lots of detail, requiring specific tactics in order to train veterans and survive. Phase II mixes things up with three very distinct single player campaigns and the inclusion of day and night missions.

The graphics are outstanding, the teamwork aspects are unique and enjoyable, and even in single player there's fun to be had. On the other hand, using the Game Boy Advance can be a hassle from time to time.

Removing the backstage areas seriously lessons the game's fun factor, and whoever selected the legends needs to be demoted. Still, the game's a blast to play.

The biggest knock against this game is it'll cost you $59.99 and it only offers up seven to nine hours of play.

The single player campaigns are a bit short, and we really wished there was a unit carryover and more transferable items to further compliment the RTS/RPG features, but Dragonshard has accomplished quite a bit with what they've done.

The single player mode gets boring very quickly, the game's frame rate needs improvement, and it's often times difficult to communicate strategies with other players.

Cloning Clyde does lack some of the visual and audio spark that other platformers possess, but it has a style all its own that make it a worthwhile addition to your Xbox Live Arcade library. It's worth the $10.

After getting used to the motion, it became too easy to hit straight/long shots. However, I will say that the short-iron part of the game (especially wedges) left me guessing how to gauge distance. This added a certain difficulty to the game, especially at higher levels when the game didn't kibitz.

The ambient sounds are great, and the monsters are creepy and well designed, but it isn't long before players figure out the patterned A.I. for each creature and start breezing through the game.

Modern Combat isn't the epitome of brilliant game design. It's too easy to lose focus, and the arcade like gameplay trivializes death. It's worth playing, but not for too long.

Kirby fans are going to love Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, as it's a typical pink puffball adventure with a neat twist thrown in to keep things interesting.

It's got a fast paced battle system, an interesting plot, and how the game ends is all up to you. The experience is full of matching-making, engaging battles, and textbook plot development.

As solid an adventure as anything Rare has put out, this game is a must-have if you're looking for a well made "platformer." However, if you're looking for strides in innovation, keep looking. This is just an evolution of the same game we've been playing since "Super Mario 64."

This PS2 monster is insanely difficult and action-packed, full of bizarre monsters, both robotic and organic and you have a plethora of weapons to destroy them with.

Some will enjoy this new method of play, while others will struggle as they go from offensive to defensive moves in frustrating transition.

Those of you who aren't looking for slow-paced gameplay, limited character movement and sometimes annoying puzzles should look for their gaming satisfaction via another route.

The Xbox 360 version is supposed to be the higher-end version on the market, but instead, you wonder where the extra $10 investment has gone. The game is sorely lacking in modes and extras that exist in the other versions, and its graphics and gameplay have some hitches that could've been remedied in production.

In this light-hearted whimsical title from one of the largest online gaming companies in South Korea, Ragnarok Online combines simplified RPG controls, bloodless combat, anime art and addictive social communities to create a truly unique online experience.

The developers failed to create any sort of balance, and even though the defensive intensity has been bumped up several notches this is still a run and gun basketball game.

Hardcore Castlevania fans may be disappointed with Lament because of its emphasis on action and Konami's decision to break up the castle into levels instead of keeping it whole.

The biggest drawback to this title is the small playlist of songs that play like a soundtrack for Summer 2003. However, it's worth a look when you couple the lower price with an unbelievably complete set of features.

I think Criterion could've done so much more with this game to turn it into an instant classic. As is, it's a great sugar rush that's worth a few hours of your time, but doesn't really justify the full $40 price tag like it should.

A thrilling experience that, despite its lack of features, is a great game to play in short bursts.

Long-time players will appreciate the changes, such as mission instancing, more-so than anyone who is new to the series.

Controls are easy to pick up, and completing the modes and learning new tricks is fun. But after awhile, it feels quite repetitive and when you beat it, there's not much reason to play more.

If you're tired of Sonic's antics and you've been yearning for some innovation, you won't find it with this title. The multiplayer does its best to keep things interesting, but it's not enough to make Sonic's latest outing a must have.

New characters and the ability to customize your weapons and armor add to the title, but it's still very much the same game.

Some slow down, a questionable camera, a nasty control glitch, and the excessive back tracking seriously hampers the overall gameplay experience.

The game isn't quite on a level with EA's "MVP Baseball 2004," but it does compete (which is saying a lot when you look at last year's installment) and it's fully capable of providing you with hours of entertainment.

The fast paced music helps in getting your blood pumping and gets those blocks moving.

Unfortunately, the biggest problem from the core title still hasn't been addressed, and that's the extremely limited number of available workers.

Seeing as how it's $20, MGS:DGN is one of those "what the hell" purchases. Even if you're not a Metal Gear fan it's worth checking out, if for nothing else than to admire the slick art work and check out a confusing story that you might have missed.

While the difficulty level won't be for all gamers out there, it contains a great wealth of RTS elements combined with being able to rip through armies with your squadrons.

It's certainly a quality product, but the stiff controls, the back tracking, and the predictability is soooo 2004.

A fine FPS for the Xbox, giving you lots of opportunity to unearth the trials of war through a number of intriguing campaigns.

It has a hilarious story with wonderful characters, but the lackluster graphics, twitchy gameplay and repetitive levels make this just another mediocre shooter.

Liberty City Stories is by no means a terrible game, as it still manages to deliver most of the goods we remember from the PSP effort we went through last year in console form. But it could've used a little bit of touching-up to go along with its terrific price, so that the game could've gotten the same kind of respect and recognition that its previous chapters received.

It's not the most original game in the world, and some of the game's unbalanced difficulty will leave you kicking up more than dirt, but in general, it's still a focused, entertaining ride, offline and on.

It's a fantastic two-player affair, but that's as good as it gets. The improvements and new additions can't save the gameplay, which winds up being even shallower than the first game's due to the inclusion of GameBreaker 2s.

MVP seems to capture the feeling of hitting and pitching more realistically, but ESPN is certainly easier to pick-up-and-play.

Not only does it feature addictively simple pick up and play gameplay, but the stage-oriented design allows players to either go through a few stages or a few playthroughs at time.

While this DDR is solid, some of songs are repeats from past versions, and the use of the EyeToy comes off as more of a gimmick than a real extension of the gameplay. Still, fans of this series will be pleased at what Konami's put together.

It's worth purchasing for the World Cup and Free-4-All modes alone, but be aware that this isn't the defining hockey experience it could have been.

Older gamers may want to give this a spin for kicks, but younger gamers will appreciate the challenges and fun that Hamtaro: Ham Ham Games brings to the table.

People looking for a fast-paced RTS should give this one a pass. Those who are interested in something that is a little different and like facing near-impossible odds should give Soldiers a run.

But too many things come up short, like the haphazard combat and gun systems and the fact that most of the missions run the same, with the dumbest cops in the world getting outran and you getting the best of goons.

With all things taken into consideration, this game offers a ton of value for the dollar.

Midway has successfully straddled a fine line; Loaded remains quite accessible to casual fans of the sport, while hardcore baseball enthusiasts, if they give it a chance, may find the game just as entertaining. I know I did.

The skill levels are very well balanced, meaning you'll probably beat the easy songs and then get destroyed when you switch to the hardest difficulties, but that's definitely a good thing.

A fine return to form for the series. It's nothing revolutionary, and it won't change the fact it still needs a little tinkering, but considering what depths Ubisoft sunk it to with the last two chapters, it's a nice step up.

The music selection could've used more work, and some parts of the game drag when they shouldn't. Still, this is a great sequel.

The gameplay holds together fine, the graphics look great enough to keep the game moving, and you got to love being able to go online and rub a wheelie in an opponent's face.

During your time with the game, you'll enjoy the adrenaline rush and the constant action that it brings. However, I just wish Criterion thought about the long-term, as the game can only survive so long on such a short push of action.

An insanely deep RTS game that requires a little more brain power to complete than some of its competitors. With that being said, prepare to be yanked in a billion different ways as there are all sorts of problems that need attending to, but then again, who said that ruling all of Europe would be easy?

It grew on me! MR4's an addictive battle monster game that's amazingly deep and a lot of fun.