Incredibly fun to play, even though its trick system is somewhat shallow.

If only the game had downloadable tunes, it'd be perfect. As is, it's still a must-have, whether you sing like Frank Sinatra or Frank the Garbageman.

Its presentation doesn't stand out, its gameplay doesn't deliver like it should, and its fun is limited. The legend deserves a little bit better than this, and, hopefully, next year, he'll get it.

Living up to its unbelievable hype, Bungie's masterpiece features an engaging story, a satisfying single-player campaign, some of the most impressive graphics ever seen in a console title, and new gameplay features like dual-wielding, vehicle boarding, new weapons, and advanced AI.

To put it simply: if you are a fan of the MMO genre, you absolutely must try this game. It sucks you in from the first click and doesn't let go. Graphics, sound, and gameplay are all here and representing the best there is to offer in the MMO pride.

It's by no means a fantastic game, but it satisfied my urge to blow stuff up, and even though it didn't necessarily last long, I was entertained for most of the time.

Mario Power Tennis is all about a great game of tennis, with responsive controls, colorful graphics, and a nice, lighthearted style. Fans of the sport shouldn't be surprised if they find one of the best tennis games out there.

The incredible graphics and storyline combined with destructible objects create a powerful cinematic feel that completely draws the player in.

Vendetta Online is not really worth the time or the money. It's boring a lot of the time, and most players will probably lose interest long before anything exciting happens.

The game more than stands on its own because of its unique visual style and cool light cycle races, but it's plagued by a sloppy interface that makes switching weapons a chore, too many platform jumping elements, and so much loading I wasn't sure if the game was running correctly or if it locked up.

Quirky fun. It has within it the same excellent gameplay that the series is known for, along with online play via Xbox Live that's sure to find its niche on the network. On the other hand, the game is practically drowned in utter cuteness.

The animation is superb, showing detail in the smallest of characters, and the environmental damage modeling is superb! The level design is outstanding.

It's a great way to work out, and it'll definitely be a hit at parties, but it's also a short-lived experience that doesn't feel like a full-fledged game.

It has plenty of style, but the aged PS2 hardware sometimes can't keep up with the game's intensity. Online play is highly addictive, but the weapons lack proper balance to make it more competitive.

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.

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.

The lack of sea units and carriers of any type make the title needlessly tedious.

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

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.

This is a game that has only one audience: players already in the world of Brittania. Anyone who has never played Ultima Online has absolutely no chance of grasping the momentous task of syncing with the various systems of the world.

A very below-average affair that never really rises to the wonders of its license, riding on its mean-spirited and pointless mini games. Skip this if you want to have a Merry Christmas.

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 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.

But the game lacks any sort of genuine thrills, and instead takes the easy way out, sticking with average design and a challenge level that's junior-high level at best.

The amazing graphics, phenomenal special effects, voice acting, and of course, the soundtracks from the movies steal the show. Beautiful, rewarding, and brimming with personality.

It lacks sorely in presentation, and doesn't offer any kind of multiplayer effort to keep you or your friends involved for too long.

It's got some good ideas, and some of the level designs are outstanding, but the game's controls never really come together like they should, and some frustrating factors come into play, making The Incredibles a lackluster superhero adventure.

It shows in the incredibly intriguing and well-executed storyline. However, as shiny as the story may be, it can't hide the unpolished feel of other aspects.

Once again, Rockstar Games and Rockstar North have changed gaming as we know it...The variety of missions in San Andreas is staggering, as there's literally hundreds of varied tasks that will help you gain respect.

Incredible and impressive, perhaps closer to the ideal sequel fans wanted.

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.

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.

If you love chess, Ubisoft's Chessmaster is an essential selection, as it is a genre defining title that features a high level of polish and satisfying gameplay.

A blast! The online virtual arcade is the best possible setup for an online fighting game to date. In addition, the sheer number of gameplay modes and unlockable content is outstanding.

The lack of multiplayer or online play does hurt the title a bit, especially when multiplayer has been included in previous Ace Combat titles.

If you already own the Game Boy Advance version of "Wario Ware", you may want to pass it by since it's included in that game as Dr. Wario.

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.

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

But for a golf game that clearly doesn't take itself seriously, it has solid gameplay elements and a ton of modes to keep you busy, plus great Xbox Live support.

Its sweet symphony of particle effects and rock solid gameplay put Otogi 2 in a class all its own. Yes, the slow down gets annoying, but that's a small quibble compared to this game's majesty.

If turning the third installment into a party game is Sony's idea of fun, then the franchise (if you can even call it that) is dead. I like the cel-shaded graphics and the music is all right, but the gameplay is a huge let down, especially when you consider the other party games on the market.

The game's on the short side, and it's for some reason a little easier than past incarnations, but it's a fun shooter that's great to play in short bursts. Plus, its zany characters and gorgeous FMV cut scenes put it so far over the top it'd be a crime not to pick it up.

A fun arcade port with very few new additions and a ridiculously high price tag, which means it's better experienced as a weekend rental.

It's flawed, but Men of Valor is a quality first person shooter that features intense combat situations and superb visuals that shine through the game's linearity.

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.

The use of jetpacks in combination with "skiing" creates a different dynamic that you won't find in other shooting games. The weapons are well balanced, and the multiplayer is easy to get into.

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.

What it offers is a turn-based RPG with a relatively unique setting, entertaining party customization system, and lots of gameplay hours. What if doesn't offer is anything revolutionary.

Not only is it an excellent 2D side-scroller with a lot of content, but the best part of all is the number of fun weapons and vehicles you have in your arsenal.

The slow animation and lack of difficulty make it one of the most boring sports entertainment games that I've ever played.

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.

There are still some nagging flaws, like questionable AI and the poor soundtrack, but you'll still get your money's worth out of this bloodsucker.

The pure bottom line is this is the best soccer game currently on the market.

A marvelous package, and if you're an old school gaming fan, it's a must buy.

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 RPG for those of us that dislike RPGs. It's easy to play, funny, absolutely gorgeous, and filled with plenty of good old fashioned Nintendo fun. Also, the soundtrack is amazing.

If all you want is a shallow collection of mini-games centered around a raunchy, comedic storyline, then Magna Cum Laude is your game.

Practically nothing about this virtual relationship even remotely approaches plausibility. The graphics are nice, but the shallow gameplay won't keep people entertained for long.

Legacy Interactive has done a marvelous job of not only immersing the player into the mythos of the show, but also allows them to see if they have what it takes to be a real-life crime fighter.

One of the saddest stories of 2004, as it's a game that's chock full of everything a rhythm game should have, but it trips and falls off the stage because the actual singing aspect has been so poorly developed. It's just heartbreaking to sing a song perfectly and score fewer points than someone who's making it up as they go.

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.

The first person mode of this game features a fantastic control scheme and can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately the other half of the game, cycle mode, offers clunky controls and slow game play, making the game feel incomplete.

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 graphics are amazing and the game does an absolutely phenomenal job of simulating (and teaching) the art of sailing.

Basically, if you like Scrabble, this is a great version to have. The options are endless and it's possible that, while having fun, you might actually learn something.

Offers an exciting take on a stale genre, but I found it to be unnecessarily frustrating.

Kids are bound to have a good time with it, especially if they're fans of Zelda-style gameplay. Everyone else may be better served by something more complex.

Has some great humorous moments. Still, it borders a bit on overkill, so if you're tired of the series, this isn't going to sway you differently. Otherwise, feel free to skate on.

The only disappointment is the somewhat static AI and unbelievable damage model. But the fast and fun gameplay and the diverse missions make up for any of these shortcomings.

The hook is that the game runs in real-time. It might take your fleet several actual hours to reach the base they will be attacking, or for you to finish construction on all the ships in your queue.

It's a shame to see all this potential wasted. It takes a true and determined criminal mastermind to get through this game with all its flaws.

Lack of any good documentation lead us to hours of agony and frustration just to get started. It's a compelling game, and it would have been worthwhile if we knew what we were doing from the outset.

This seems like a straight-up port with not much thrown in to make it worth buying all over again.

The game's poor graphics and sound really sour what's a solid package, and makes the game's $50 price tag hard to swallow.

It would've been nice to see more mutliplayer options and maybe a camera that works like it's supposed to, but it's a quality adventure that should keep you hooked for hours. It's not a major comeback, but it's a step up from the monotony the series has fallen into.

The game's technical aspects and challenge may turn off those eager to just kick up some mud and have a good time. But those in search of a game that offers a realistic rally experience will find themselves hard-pressed to pass up this awesome piece of work.

Simply put, ESPN NBA 2K5 can't be beat when it comes to value and offers quite possibly the best virtual game of basketball on the market today.

Like all Backyard sports games, Backyard Skateboarding is made expressly for kids, and it therefore has adorable animation and easy controls.

The gameplay is engaging but isn't really challenging over time, and the music selection could've been a little more varied, not to mention plentiful. However, there is fun to be had.

Yes, it's a little on the easy side, but it's the perfect game for those of us who need a break from incredibly hard games that make us sweat. If you couldn't get enough of the film, Shark Tale for the Gamecube is a necessary purchase.

This game is not only visually overwhelming, but intellectually, too. This is not for the casual gamer, or for people who only have a few hours a day to play. Instead, it is for those armchair generals who enjoy both the slower turn-based elements of games like Civilization and faster paced real-time strategy games.

It's cool that Sega has continued the series, but sadly, the finished product is about three years too late.

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 a novel idea that almost works to perfection, and it's bolstered by a whacky Japanese design that'll please gamers looking for title with an Eastern flavor.

The new enemies, areas, quests and story elements make this a must-buy for anyone who plays Final Fantasy XI, as well as those that have yet to go hunting in Square Enix's MMORPG masterpiece.

This game gets boring quick, and the frustration induced from agonizing over the awkward controls makes Yu Yu destined for the dark bargain bin pit of despair.

While nowhere near as pretty and interactive, Blood Will Tell is the closest PS2 owners will get to having "Otogi" on their machines. It's a slick hack-and-slash adventure with a great story, beautiful art work, and intense combat.

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.

A highly enjoyable thriller that has a nice mix of stealth and action. The game's story will make you want to beat it quickly (it'll take between 10 and 20 hours), but you'll have a lot of fun doing so.

Once you get the feel of the odd controls and figure out how everything works, every one of the single player modes are a throw away.

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.

Skill-based character development is easy to grasp despite being amazingly complex in combination.

This incredible title has everything a great real-time strategy game should have. The four factions are very distinct in look and play, the game is challenging, and the graphics and the storyline are fantastic.

Feels like a by-the-numbers sequel.

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.

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.

Hands down the most features-packed golf game ever, as well as the best golf game of the year.

The graphics are noticably lacking in quality, and some of the gameplay elements don't quite mesh together like they should. However, if you're looking for cheap thrills and have the eagerness to utterly destroy something, you won't mind this little Overdose.