Harvest Time: Hop and Fly is extremely cute and colorful. The characters are adorable, particularly when they beat a level and celebrate by dancing. Harvest Time: Hop and Fly is an adorable game, and one that younger kids will have a great time playing.

It wants to innovate so badly in its arena but it has a few shortcomings that stop it from parading like a champion.

It also reeks of sloppy development, making it a decent title for the brain dead, but an absolute bore fest for those looking for even the cheapest of thrills.

The ability to create you own items and use your head to determine how to handle each situation is a nice feature. However, sometimes it's just easier to open fire and complete the level a lot faster and a lot easier.

It's a good reminder of everything that once was in terms of the smacking-around-everyone-and-staying-alive gameplay, but the fact is, the gameplay hasn't really aged well itself.

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 lack of refinement and execution hold the game back from being frightening and that's not a good thing.

I'm not much of a cook, but I do know how to make a mediocre game. You toss in some bland graphics, ridiculously boring combat, and then top that off with an atrocious story.

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

A cool game that looks and sounds great, but it's best experienced in very small doses. The low level of interactivity with your virtual pet combined with the very limited gameplay options means Connection Corner Shop gets old quick, but considering the old Tamagotchi products, this one's definitely an evolution of the brand.

It feels terrific and has the look and sound of a well-oiled machine, but something truly went wrong during the ride.

Sonic Riders tries to put some zesty racing action on the line here, but suffers due to inadequate gameplay and the kind of AI that makes you want to bash your controller into pieces with a hammer.

Plays more like a lifeless copy of the thousand arcade shooters that came before it, rather than anything even remotely strategic.

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

This game is so awful that I can't even recommend it as a weekend rental. Between the load times, boring plot, stiff combat, and lame voice acting, Capcom should've never put its name on the package, and quite frankly, I'm rather shocked that they did.

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.

Overall, Lizzie McGuire 3: Homecoming Havoc is a great choice for Lizzie fans, young girls in particular. However, those looking for a more rugged, action-packed, or sophisticated game should look for something else.

At $20, Slugfest 2006 isn't what I'd call a terrible title. It has the same great gameplay as previous entries and does deliver a fast game of arcade baseball. But we've seen this before, and done better, and unless Midway's planning to give it all they've got for a next-generation edition, maybe it's best to let someone else round the bases. This Slugfest has lost a bit of its punch.

Even with the upgrade, the graphics and style of play are only appealing to the old school gamers who grew up on the original EverQuest and Ultima Online.

The game suffers from too little variety, and freezing monsters over and over again can get tiring.

Sub-par voice acting, somewhat annoying puzzles and an overall dated look will not put this game on many people's Christmas list.

The game surprisingly has some value this time around, particularly with the ability to race against others online and being able to use customized soundtracks during a race.

Lastly, the main game isn't all that long, coming in at about five or six hours. In a way, that's a good thing, as I can't imagine the game lasting much longer without things starting to get a bit old, plus the multiplayer and mini-games will probably add a few more hours to the mix for younger gamers. Still, it's something to be aware of, especially if one is considering spending $40 on the title.

The game's definitely enjoyable but it does spread the player thin, and in all honesty it comes off feeling like I've done this all before.

The customization options are cool, but more often than not the game's repetitiveness and low development values drag it through the mud.

It's definitely enjoyable to a point, but it may also anger some of you, so definitely go into the experience with an open mind.

It has its moments of well-timed chaos scattered across a tale of monotony and deja vu, and that does not a classic make.

Being able to control both helicopters and fighter planes at least adds some variety to what is at times a fairly dry gameplay experience.

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.

Unfortunately for Sims fans, The Sims 2 on GBA is less like a simulation and more like a standard platformer.

Drakengard 2 is sort of like a dentist trying out a new drill. It's got a different method to bringing forth the action over the original attempt, but you still can't help but feel the same old pain after a little while.

The combat options are refreshing, and the ability to pummel up to 15 other people in a deathmatch is awesome, but the graphics aren't as smooth as they could be, and there's not that much more to do, due to the lack of a comprehensive story mode.

If only it had a lower price point...we would've had a true must-have. As is, fans will want to jump right in and casual players will want to give it a look.

It's not that Fatal Shadows is a horrible game, it's just that we've seen it before- it fails to distinguish itself from "Wrath of Heaven" and even keeps some of its most crucial flaws.

The challenge is there, the rules have been correctly implemented, and things play rather well. However, part of the thrill in playing a board game that strongly involves negotiating with other players loses something when it is put into text format.

Sadly, EA's worst Bond game is just as bad on the DS as it is on the Xbox.

It has its moments, like some neat lighting effects and some balls-out action, but it's marred too often by lack of imagination and solid control, not to mention too many moments of "let's press the elevator button".

The graphics seem mostly unimpressive despite some quirks, and the gameplay never really meshes. Only some online options and multiplayer goodies keep this from being completely imperfect.

Manages to stick to its roots and, as a result, wins the day with good ol' fashioned action and non-stop comic book action, like the film itself.

While the game continues its multiplayer mayhem on a new platform, one can't help but think it's the same old thing all over again.

The result is a collection of good intentions and ideas that sound great in theory, but play poorly.

The game suffers from collision detection problems, clunky controls, awful A.I. and sub par graphics. While Showdown may entertain old school wrestling fans, it will certainly leave most people frustrated and disappointed.

It's merely a very standard game that's all about mindless blasting and consuming copious amounts of Red Bull, to which I say, rock on!

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.

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's way too monotonous. Lots of button mashing, frustration, and stupid AI don't a good game make, at least not in 2005.

MtB:RS is a rather short, uncomplicated "budget" strategy game that certainly helps teach the fundamentals of "how to" play an RTS to gamers just breaking into the genre, but will offer virtually nothing to the experienced strategist.

Moderately enjoyable, mainly because the character selection is so diverse. When's the last time you saw Pooka from "Dig-Dug" show the Prince of All Cosmos who's boss?

This could've been a fantastic crossover title that really highlighted some of the company's greatest games, but instead is a competent game that features solid fighting and little else.

The leveling system includes only the bare essentials, which takes the thrill out of leveling up. Worst of all, there's no multiplayer!

A first-person shooter with a fairly interesting premise, but uninteresting gameplay. This is as straightforward as games can possibly get.

Unfortunately, it's not really all that fun for those of us that aren't hardcore either. After playing this game, I'm in no real hurry to hop into another jetfighter sim anytime soon.

The gameplay is fairly lackluster when compared to non-licensed games in the genre. The ability to transmute objects is a nice addition, but it simply doesn't add enough to keep non-fans interested.

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

The story mode is so razor thin and pointless I didn't know who the enemy was, and after breezing through most of the game, to have the last decisive battle be beyond difficult (because of the controls) made the game very unbalanced.

Its tiring shooting sequences, somewhat rushed production value, and lack of replay value hurt it badly.

The technical execution of virtually every aspect of this potentially great game is embarrassing beyond reproach. Even patched, there are a myriad of crashes, glitches, heinous load times and other bugs that should have never gotten past beta.

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.

Despite some small amounts of flair and likeability, the series has now hit rock bottom. Between technical glitches, uneventful gameplay, a flat story, and the worst on-foot missions ever accomplished, the game just gets nothing but flats.

Road to Freedom isn't terrible, but it's exactly like a boring significant other. The fire burns out way to quickly, and what you'll be left with is an empty shell of a game that you'll dread coming home to night after night.

Bandai's string of horrible anime-based games continues, as Zatch Bell! Mamodo Battles is yet another boring and mindless beat-em-up starring characters who look and sound extremely annoying.

To be brutally honest, I'm not entirely sure why Monolith wasted their time making this game, other than to cash in on the franchise. It doesn't look any better, and there is absolutely nothing new in the way of gameplay.

Atrocious collision detection, clipping, stupid AI, horrible end of match transitioning, and an annoying Career Mode are just a few of this game's numerous flaws.

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.

With none of the original voice talent from the movie, you're likely to find very few laughs and almost none of the heart you saw in the theatres.

Just a cookie cutter style platform adventure wrapped around a horrible license that's apparently brain washed lots of impressionable children. But not this guy! NOT...THIS...GUY!

Repetitious gameplay isn't always a bad thing if the game is properly designed around it. Unfortunately, Digimon World 4 doesn't fall into that category.

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

The graphics aren't exactly awe-inspiring and neither is the gameplay. Hardcore RTS fans might want to consider this one, but if you don't qualify as hardcore then don't bother.

Tecmo Classic Arcade isn't entirely loaded with winners, and some might question the bump in price up to the $30 range, but classic gamers will want to jump right in just to endure "Tecmo Bowl" in its finest form, as well as "Bomb Jack" and a few other favorites.

With lackluster and restrictive gameplay, almost no class diversity, and drab graphics, this is probably a game that should step into the Gloom and stay there for a long while.

All of this is overshadowed by awkward controls, yucky graphics, slow down, and too much loading. It's a mess that's beyond repair.

It's a repetitive title that requires little strategy on the part of the player, other than planning when to take the caffeine pills to stay awake through the next "battle".

Reminded me of any given recent Steven Seagal film. Yeah, you'll have your guilty pleasure with it and like some moments of its over-the-top violence, but it really feels like the same old thing, like the after-effects of a good idea gone rather sour in production.

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.

It's the bracelet-wearing champ of the current crop, at least as over the counter titles are concerned.

Digimon World 4 isn't necessarily a must-have, but, with four players along for the ride, it does provide some decent Digi-thrills.

The mini games are fun but it also feels like the game can get pretty repetitious.

Just average. There's almost no diversity in available forces, and very few things are upgradeable. The graphics are fair, but are blown out of the water by recent entries. Sound is tolerable, but just there as filler.

It fits its ideal child audience and will amuse those young enough to appreciate the cartoons. But Unite isn't really the best thing you can own on the DS right now, especially when you have "Mario Kart DS" and "Mario and Luigi: Partners In Time" available for the same system.

Combat is dull and repetitive, mostly requiring players to repeat the same button combination over and over again.

The graphics are extremely old, which detracts from the game's enjoyment, and there is an overall unfinished feeling to this title.

There is strategy and action to be found, but it takes a great deal of searching, and more patience than a Buddhist monk.

Having grown tired of boring crime simulators, I find playing as a killer shark to be a refreshing change of pace, and the game's various bells and whistles, such as the JAWS theme and the sound of hapless divers screaming underwater are joys to listen to.

Sounds great on paper, but performs abysmally. There is a slight hope for redemption in the entertaining political pieces, but the non-participary combat and poor command system get in the way too much for a player to enjoy the game for more than five minutes.

The gameplay's been tweaked but not really improved, and the game doesn't have a single aspect that propels it into the competition. This Auto's out of gas.

The game is not too hard, and when Raven encounters obstacles that would be otherwise hard to get through, there is usually a moment when "ghost Raven" demonstrates how to get through it.

It's great for the first 30 minutes, but after that you'll be ready to move on to something else.

Nothing more than a total button mashing snooze fest that's about as entertaining as eating a pile of boiled eggs, which for me isn't too entertaining.

Cartoon Network Block Party sadly joins that group of misfit games due to its lack of multiplayer interaction and any sort of gameplay quirks to make it stick out from the bunch.

It's nice to play as different characters, and the presentation is true to the comic book essence, but the whole thing feels like a condensed action affair that we've seen before, countless times.

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.

The game has most of the necessary ingredients for success, but Bethesda and 7 Studios managed to produce a lackluster hack-and-slash adventure title that features woefully linear level design, mediocre voice acting, and tired swashbuckling.

It doesn't suck, but it's good for all of the wrong reasons.

I literally scavenged through this game for hours on end trying to find any type of enjoyment I could, and only found little moments of inspiration buried between the game's lack of personality, terrible presentation, and sad gameplay.

I gave Spy Hunter: Nowhere To Run plenty of chances to impress me, but it came up short, with its glitched-out graphics and a control scheme that's too wonky for its own good, whether you're on foot or in the car.

Ape Escape Academy is like a drunken scholar- it has all the best ideas in the world but the execution will leave a bad taste in your mouth. The presentation is strictly average, the controls messy, and the multiplayer aspect damn near unexplored.

The Story Mode is a joke, and the Challenge Mode and mini-games are mere shells of what's been included in previous adventures. This Monkey Ball got dropped. Hard.