It efficiently captures the mood and spirit of ancient Rome through bloody battles, exhilarating chariot races, and a few minor stealth sequences, all intertwined with a good moving story and impressive (for the most part) gameplay.

If the mindless action of mashing your analog stick to death won't bore you into using Death by Degrees as a coaster, the horrible soundtrack will at least guarantee you will make use of the mute feature on your TV.

2002/2003 will please the hardcore brawler in you.

The Trick Stick by itself enhances the gameplay to a higher level, and the bulking-up of the Street Challenge mode is certainly going to keep solo players busy, along with messing around with extra characters.

This is definitely a genre that needs some serious reinventing.

A game that takes first-person shooting action, third-person platforming adventure, and a little bit of tactics, throws it into a digital blender along with a fluid storyline and undoubtedly good presentation, and comes up a bona fide winner in the hunt for Game of the Year for 2005.

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.

Would've been a great game had it come out three years ago, but this is 2005, and its gameplay mechanics just aren't acceptable. There's just so much wasted potential it's ridiculous, and the graphics are so average that I'm very surprised at Volition.

Unfortunately, due to the difficult controls, it's not a game you can pick up and play without some level of practice.

It's like your grandmother getting some unnecessary plastic surgery- there's some value for the dollar, but underneath seems to be the same old thing. Still, it could have been worse.

While RE4 has a spectacular opening, the game's plot is at times as boring as a shambling zombie, and while the developers did a marvelous job with the game's graphics, its memorable boss battles, and some of the gameplay mechanics, the emphasis on action somewhat demeans the overall experience, leaving me to conclude that while Resident Evil 4 is one of the greatest games ever made it's by no means a perfect one.

Compared to past 2D Zelda titles, Minish Cap is bursting with personality and detail. Little touches, such as the expression on Link's face and accompanying scream as he rides a mine cart, his disheveled hair, the smart-talking Ezlo, the creative new gadgets and detailed environments help to give the game a certain charm.

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 gameplay is stimulating, with all sorts of firepower at your disposal, and the online components will keep you busy for lengthy periods of time. This Lone Wolf has got some fangs.

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.

Ubisoft's game would have gone over much better had they given us more freedom to use the team at hand for better purposes, and not stuck us with only so many puzzles to solve or obvious hints at what needs to be found where. Furthermore, the game simply isn't fun to play, using a clunky interface.

Fast-paced action, excellently integrated stealth, and even some well-tuned platforming blend to make a cocktail that suits many tastes.

It's extremely frustrating because the game's unbalanced, and repeatedly having to read the same dialogue over and over puts a damper on the overall experience.

Its horrible touch screen controls notwithstanding, Ridge Racer DS is a fast-paced thrill ride that's without a doubt the best racing game for the Nintendo DS.

The combat system is card based, but just pressing the A button enough will most likely guarantee you victory regardless of the situation.

Even though the missions may sometimes seem like an exercise in patience than of strategic might, this is still a great looking game that is a great experience to play.

The mini-games still remain a treat for four players, and the use of a microphone is a smart idea, and comes in handy at points. However, the game's single player mode remains a letdown, and the graphics and sound come across as a rerun.

While some of you may be annoyed by the title's difficulty adjustment, namely, the inclusion of a power bar and unlimited continues, you'll still be amazed by the intense action that the game offers, and its collection system is pretty sweet as well.

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.

A great look, a compelling historical storyline and an emphasis on in-depth strategy and tactics contribute to a fun gaming experience.

Bigger and definitely badder, with a more enhanced combat set-up, deeper levels and puzzles, a neat time travel gimmick, and a darker tone that works wonderfully.

Despite their age, these two classics are still quite playable thanks to various tweaks, which include the ability to save anywhere, additional dungeons, and new storylines.

Combines not only technical prowess and fine-tuned gameplay, but pleasure as well, making this the new standard for the competition. Word to the other companies: this is the reason your registered users are dwindling.