The 8-bit classic has aged gracefully, and while its graphics don't compare to the more modern Castlevania games, the gameplay is still very solid, and is something fans will definitely want to sink their teeth into.

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

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.

Despite some serious sound issues and cheap AI, the game is still a winner because of its cool modes, blazing gameplay, and unique cast of characters.

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."

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.

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 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.

It's an inventive process, really taking steps where a game development hasn't before as you control a fish making his way through the Seven Waters.

The four-player action is hard to top, the Boost mode plays like an old school brawler, and the character customization options are some of the best seen in 2D fighters. However, the game doesn't feature online play, something "Guilty Gear X2 #Reload" features on the Xbox for a mere $20.

A charming music game that's fun to play, has loads of features and songs, and sells at a budget price.

This is a game that's been created for the weirdos of the world interested in a game like no other.

The upside of paying is that new missions appear every month, which offers you a variety of experiences. The downside of the game is that the graphics won't overwhelm you and the missions get very repetitive once you finish them.

Odama takes the hard way and really makes you work to see every one of its twelve levels. This will fascinate many looking for something new from Nintendo's camp, but the whole thing seems a bit done in by a clunky, uninteractive control scheme and a cramped presentation.

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

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.

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.

The heroes are interesting, the story entertaining, and the battles get adrenaline pumping.

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.

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.

A solid expansion to the massively multiplayer online game. However, the expansion is limited to high level players, which makes it a bit less accessible than most would have liked.

Mini-games aside, however, the game seems to be lacking due to slipshod controls that can't really piece together when needed, and questionable physics that will put your driver and your windshield into a long-term relationship.

It needed a bit more work with its action and stealth elements, and it probably won't catch on with those unfamiliar with the series, but fans will enjoy the freefall into pure genius.

The game won't keep you in terms of any kind of longevity, but it's an engaging enough fighter to keep you busy until the next hot GameCube title comes tumbling into stores.

The presentation isn't spectacular but is faithful to the movie, and the inclusion of the arcade-like Thou Art Dead is a nice touch.

Graffiti Kingdom is definitely worth buying if you love art or just building things, but if you're just looking for a solid action adventure title you should spend your money elsewhere.

It's not exactly a memorable quest, but Madagascar is still a good time, especially to fans of the movie who can't get enough of its main characters.

The levels themselves are fun and pack in lots of replay value, but the RPG elements in the overworld aren't quite as polished.

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 new combat system is complicated but imaginative and adds much depth to the gameplay that was already superb.

The mini-games and quirks to the traditional gameplay will keep you playing for a while. It's just too bad the difficulty forces the ride to end earlier than expected.

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.

This is pretty much as straightforward as shooters get. You play destroy everything that moves, upgrade your equipment, then do it all again. However, the gameplay is so fast that it's easy to forget the easy designs.

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.

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.

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

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

Its old school style brings back lots of fond memories, and the huge amount of missions means that you'll be playing this game for a long time. While it's not as feature-packed as its big brothers, GTA Advance is a great stocking stuffer.

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.

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

It's mostly for the kids, but Barnyard knows how to raise a little hay.

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

It still doesn't offer deeper business tactics once you do become the Don of New York, nor full online play ala "Saint's Row." It also leaves out important little things that keep it from nailing the dramatic essence of the film it's based on as well.

The game's got a solid story, pretty visuals, and good controls, and it's for the most part a very fun experience, but some targeting issues, unimpressive mini games, and maddeningly frustrating stealth elements keep Destroy All Humans from being a killer app.

Globs of action, lots violence, and a story that's good enough to keep things moving. But it's obvious that it needed a little more time to cook, what with the annoying load times, a whacky auto save function, and a frame rate that isn't nearly as fast as the PC version of the game.

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

Fans of the series won't be disappointed, and those seeking something fast and fun will be happy they picked it up.

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

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.

I just wish they cleaned up the small things, like character appearances or the computer's ability to downright own you on a high-stakes hand. Oh, well, the game still offers a solid hand, and at $30 no less.

Shin Budokai works itself on the road to redemption, thanks to gameplay that refuses to complicate itself and a presentation that's pure DBZ all the way.

I just wish the stylus control had been tweaked a bit more, because while controlling characters with it is a lot of fun, when I die I know that I would've lived had I been using the d-pad.

The most frustrating parts will come from the non-existent camera control that will interfere with almost every aspect of the game, even the easy hand-to-hand combat system.

The game does have some excellent variety, and it's got a wealthy amount of modes to keep you busy. Still, the product feels like a second-rate DDR wannabe instead of clearly marking out its own territory. At least it's still fun.

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.

Fans of the series will love the additional features, but newcomers may be footing it off in favor of something more their speed.

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.

It just gets a bit stale going through area after area, facing enemies that never really evolve to keep up with you.

Playing Strikers against others is a total blast, but the single player is mind numbingly boring.

Not only does it provide great comical overtones and a worthy quest, it also has some neat sub-stages and mini-games to occupy your time.

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.

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 gameplay itself hasn't really evolved that much, and those who didn't feel the vibe from the first game will certainly not feel it here either.

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.

Those who already own Battle won't be motivated to drive to the store just to drop $40 on a couple of additional features.

The gameplay remains somewhat fun as you mix up combos and techniques, alone or with a friend, but the difficulty level is questionable and some parts of the game came up lacking.

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.

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.

Multiplayer's worth a go, and the game still has a mostly killer presentation, but, really, it's an acquired taste, just like the first game. If you loved that, have a field day.

Takes you deep into farming activities and offers a compelling game experience as a result. The number of choices you can make and activities you can take part in are nearly endless, despite the game's basic presentation.

There are plenty of scares to be had, and the emphasis on shooting things in the head (and the resulting gore) makes this a fabulous guilty pleasure.

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.

Galleon may not have the sharpest visuals around (it harkens back to a first generation visual fest), but the rest of the production values appear on par and the gameplay is excellent, especially as your quest gets deeper in scope and adventure.

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.

Nothing memorable, but at least it blows "Nitro Kart" out of the water.

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!

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

Sure, there should've been more channels and things to interact with, but the pet Pikachu, Pichu Bros. episode, Pokemon minis and the near infinite amount of pictures to color make this a mandatory purchase.

The game scores better than expected because it carries over the personality of its material, and also mixes in a little variety during the game to keep things a bit lively.

This game is about as hard as petrified wood. Capcom eased things up a bit by tossing three difficulty levels into the mix, but even the added confidence booster couldn't save me from dying hundreds of times.

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.

The title's still worth picking up with the classic Sonic CD game, as well as a few other fun titles that will provide hours of retro gaming joy.

This is an extremely enjoyable blast fest that features a very slick 1940s presentation, a plethora of modes to check out, and plenty of real world planes to pilot.

While more than a couple aspects of this game turn out on the bland side, and the single player campaign is much more difficult than it should be, the game is fun to behold.

Those looking for gel-dropping, combo-building good times, whether alone or against a friend, will still find a lot to like here, especially at $30.

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.

Grasshopper Manufacture, best known for its work on the underappreciated "Killer 7," has done a great job capturing the essence of the show while incorporating its own signature elements, and the result is an entertaining hack and slash adventure that serves up plenty of action that's been marinated in tasty Samurai Champloo shenanigans.

The presentation hits the mark in terms of humor, and there are quite a few things to try in the game. However, it lacks in long-term enjoyment, and repetition sets in quickly. In the end, Leisure Suit Larry is like a one-night stand. You'll enjoy it, but the party ends a bit too soon.

Fans will absolutely love it, while newcomers will wonder what all the fuss is about.

This is far and away the best Pokemon DS game out there. It's just not the full-fledged sequel that I'm still anticipating.

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.

The lack of a couple of significant entries in the series, namely Sonic CD, hurts, and the inclusion of such lame, obscure titles like Sonic Spinball and The Ooze doesn't help.

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.

The game isn't perfect, and suffers from some oddities here and there, like some "stuck" moments in level design, lack of originality, and, uh, Vanessa Carlton, but otherwise, it's definitely worth checking out.

This is definitely a genre that needs some serious reinventing.

If you haven't played the series before, I would recommend getting the older titles first.

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.

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.