But the fantastic graphics, sound, and firefights all blend to make F.E.A.R. an excellent game, though in order to enjoy the graphics and the game to its fullest, you must have a high-end computer system. In closing, F.E.A.R. is definitely one of this year’s best games.

Improving on this venerable franchise with bigger environments, controllable vehicles, and a revamped online mode, newcomers and veterans to the series will both be able to appreciate the new features.

Quake 4 places more emphasis on its single-player campaign, and in so doing has slightly neglected its multiplayer aspects.

Unless you really enjoyed watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, there are plenty of other action adventure games with much more value.

Just remember to keep the lights on…and invest in rubber underpants.

Some parts of the game can drag a little, and the warfare system doesn’t feel fully fleshed out, but creating towns and ‘playing god’ is as fun as ever.

Whether you’ve repeatedly played through the Castlevania catalogue since the first game, or never before, Dawn of Sorrow is both a fabulous series ambassador and also one of the best Nintendo DS titles available.

For players prepared to risk finger cramp, wrist lock, eye strain, and cracked patience in order to make the transitional skill demands laid down by the merciless gameplay, the experience is never anything less than rewarding.

One of the worst downfalls we found in the PS2 version was the lack of an online multiplayer mode, which is intact in the Xbox and PC versions.

The lighting effects of CRC2005 are absolutely stunning. Light falls and reflects on tons of objects, and it changes with fluidity when objects are moving. The reflections on the cars are extremely realistic and the graphics don’t allow the car to appear perfectly undamaged by the race rubbing and bumping.

In the audio-visual department, the game shows how little it has matured since Worms 3D yet is still bearable, and the cartoony feel draws comparisons to Saturday morning cartoons.

A perfectly adequate Gundam title that will clearly live up to fan expectations. While newcomers to the series should expect to initially struggle with a slightly shoddy control scheme and overall camera confusion amid the heat of battle, veteran Gundam gamers should see it all as par for the course.

A decent platform adventure game for the PSP. The diversified environments and vast array of puzzles require you to think at times, but there’s a little too much recycled material.

The biggest aspect of Lost in Blue is repeating daily tasks and trying to stay alive on the island. After a while this can get somewhat annoying when players want to go out and see what’s on the island, but can’t because they still need to gather food or supplies.

Although the actual gameplay doesn’t vary all that much from previous installments, and it can take a while to unlock all the songs, Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2 delivers an incredibly entertaining party experience.

A noble attempt to bring the Lunar universe back to the fore, but the lack of features that made the series popular and the dated, old-school visual style take too much away from the game.

The ten new factions along with hundreds of new available units will help give this title new life, and even though the changes in gameplay won’t make any new fans out of the series, Barbarian Invasion delivers almost everything that fans could’ve asked for.

The single player campaign is dragged out and filled with the same puzzles over and over, and there isn’t a whole lot of depth to the multiplayer portion either. Although it’s possible for some kids and people new to the series to have some fun here, Ancient Shadow doesn’t quite hit the mark as a whole.

Cold War can't help but reek of mediocrity. For its low price, it might provide a bit of fun for a few hours, but in the end, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was playing a dumbed-down version of "Splinter Cell."

A big improvement over its predecessor, like "Sly 2" was over the original. The new story, variety in gameplay and even the 3D levels make Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves a definite hit and worth any gamers while.

A simple action game intended for amateur gamers everywhere. Its addictive robot transformation and customization appeal makes DICE rewarding the more it’s played, but it’s also engaging to simply indulge for a few minutes every once in a while.

The gritty atmosphere, gripping action sequences, and incredible central narrative all mix beautifully to provide many hours of great gameplay. The ‘every action has a consequence’ mechanic means that the game offers up considerable replay value.

While we would’ve loved to seen a stronger emphasis on the whole ‘actions have consequences’ premise, Fable still allows the gamer to develop a strong bond with their hero.

The game’s excellent visuals and integration of that Japanese feel make it a better-than-average action adventure game, but is overall too short to make it really stand out.

It was well thought out, and makes for a nice change of pace from normal play.

Beyond the unusually attractive RTS gameplay variety of melee and strategy, and the advanced interaction levels granted to the game's main cast of characters, Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes doesn't quite achieve its own ambitions.

The sense of victory is strange and unfamiliar. Instead of rejoicing after a hard boss battle or an intense endurance contest, you'll find yourself wondering what will happen to the characters afterward, and what it all means.

There simply isn’t enough variety throughout the entire game to keep interest up, so it takes a lot of devotion to wade through the games nearly 200 levels.

The game's balanced humor ensures that players won't lose interest, and the ability to jump in and out of proceedings by a second human player definitely adds an extra dimension to what's already a great adventure platform title.

While Animaniacs: The Great Edgar Hunt might not be the best-looking game on today's market, the thought behind it is certainly well appreciated. Playing with Yakko, Wakko, Dot, Pinky and The Brain will bring back happy memories to older gamers and will certainly amuse younger gamers with its humor and cartoon feel.

Fans of the series will be satisfied by the amount of secrets and unlockable features in the game, but for the non-fans, this might be worth a rental instead of a purchase.

While the flawed camera system and occasionally awkward attack mechanics can make the gameplay a little troublesome at times, on the whole MediEvil is a thoroughly fun title.

The best aspects of the first three Burnout titles have been combined to create the handheld masterpiece that is Legends. Even if you’re not an avid fan of the genre, Legends’ intuitive gameplay offers challenge right from the start and expands on an in-depth adventure throughout the vast racing world.

A fairly average blend of driving, action and puzzle elements. While the idea behind the game seems promising, the gameplay mechanics simply fall short.

Offers enough to amuse some friends on a Friday night, and more than enough to please hardcore fans of the original anime.

With the fast-paced battle combat, vast array of playable characters, and intuitive battle system that yearns to be perfected, it's hard to not find anything to like about this double disc collection.

Definitely the best wrestling game on GameCube, and it's certainly debatable as to whether it may well be the best wrestling game available on any of the current major platforms.

Definitely lacking in some departments. However, the game functions well as a simple-structured fighting game, with the partner system a welcome addition.

Dungeon Siege 2 does what sequels should do—fix the things that didn’t work, improve the things that did, and add the content that fans of the first will enjoy. This time there’s less downtime, pathing problems have, for the most part, been fixed, things are prettier and sound better, and there’s a lot more to do—though it’s usually the same thing in various forms.

Its mindless fun will keep gamers intrigued for a good while and even help them sweat off a couple of extra pounds.

Its mixture of platformer and third-person shooter holds considerable potential, but unfortunately there isn’t a whole lot of gameplay development throughout the relatively short single-player campaign.

An original videogame that unfortunately lacks the overall power and control mechanics to emerge as the game it could easily have become.

A partial success, and mainly because of the use of the proven Castlevania engine. If you missed the first Master of Spirits game-which most people did-then you should definitely consider giving the sequel a try. It's a fun, well-rounded adventure with enough replay value to keep you occupied for a good while.

At the time of this review, I can say with assurance that LOMAC is the best commercially available jet combat simulator ever developed. It’s simply the most in depth, the best looking, and the best flying than any previous. (Falcon 4 fans, don’t eat me)

The online support for 32 players might be enough for some to gather their money’s worth, but if you desire a challenging tactical shooter then there are certainly better choices on the market.

Although the single-player campaign is dull and monotonous, the online component will surely provide some sense of value and amusement. The graphics are notably outdated and the general gameplay and presentation suffers similarly.

A game that reeks of mediocrity. If you were a fan of the lowbrow, unfunny humor present in the previous titles and if you enjoy "tennis," then you might have a pleasant experience.

An inspiring action title that will captivate you through its dramatic storyline and leave you striving on a quest for freedom.

My props go out to Introversion for developing such an amazingly original and incredible game. Just goes to show, you don’t need a few million dollars for a budget to create a classic hit.

Yet the core of Pirates! is scurvy riddled, lacking the precious vitamin C gameplay nuance that would elevate it well beyond the ranks of average.

Ultimately, Killer7 is both an interesting and creative game. The controversial control method needs some getting used to and may turn off certain gamers, but if you give it a chance, you'll find yourself intrigued with the game and its amazing story.

Perhaps the most unique addition toEcho is its documentary database.

The perfect add-on for multiplayer Halo 2 fans. The nine maps and the critical update provide a refreshing experience and complement the game's online aspect perfectly.

The impressive amount of unlockable mobile suits probably won’t be sufficient to satisfy most regular players, and the main game mode can lapse into the realms of boredom rather swiftly.

There was a lot of potential here for an in-depth game filled with an assortment of lethal superpowers, but sadly the gameplay is repetitive and unexciting, making Fantastic 4 worth nothing more than a rent.

The multitude of customizable features for the cars is the most impressive selection seen on PSP, but the gameplay doesn’t compare with titles such as "Wipeout Pure" or "Ridge Racer."

With dated graphics and substandard animation, combined with misfiring voiceovers, poor presentation and woefully repetitive and restrictive gameplay, Fantastic 4 is not likely to whip up a storm with gamers or their wallets.

Made worse by its squandered potential. Pump the rating up to “Mature,” add some blood, a few guts, craft a story and gameplay more appealing to an older audience, and the game designers could have a hit on their hands.

Easily the best online experience I’ve ever had. Even with a few shortcomings like a horrible in-game server browser and extremely long and boring load times, Battlefield 2 is still a step ahead of the rest.

The game would’ve benefited from a few more obvious enhancements, but it is still extremely easy to be captivated by the enthralling storyline and engaging strategy experience.

The single-player mode isn't perfect but, considering the limitations of the Xbox, the graphics almost are-and the audio is pretty good, too.

One improvement would be if players could interact more with the environment using common things to wreck havoc in creative and funny ways.

Like most games in its genre Batman Begins isn't a game we're likely to remember in a year. It's a good game in most ways, but even if it introduces some interesting elements into the gameplay I doubt it'll be enough to appeal to those not heavily into Batman, or the action / third-person action genres.

It does feature a fair bit of cars, some decent courses to drive on, a nice arcade mode and multiplayer to boot, but when the graphics and overall presentation is unimpressive, gameplay mechanics don’t feel right, and very limited sound effects are included you’re probably left thinking that the money you spent should’ve gone elsewhere.

Manages to passably imitate a decent gaming jaunt, at least for its first few levels. However, once the largely bland and repetitive environments, generic opposition, disgraceful A.I. and lack of genuine gameplay panache make themselves known, Rogue Agent quickly becomes little more than a rinse-and-repeat shoot fest.

Emerges as ‘just another shooter’, and with no splash-making potential or notable innovative features, it’s destined to frequent bargain bins for years.

A remarkable roster of stars help voice many of the characters, and an important part of the era’s music has also found its way into the game.

A definite step-up from its series predecessors, and, surprisingly, it’s a fairly decent console shooter.

The plentitude of unlockable content will be enough to keep some gamers on the edge of their seats, but if you aren’t looking for a tawdry blend of the action and RPG genres, then Samurai Western is not the game for you.

EA's decision to move away from the stilting influence of closely confined conflict in favor of expansive battling proves its worth in a game of high tension and prolonged immersion.

An absolute blast to play, if you can forgive it for not offering anything especially new to the franchise, and only if you can truly invest the time that it requires.

It may not be as pretty and as rich sounding as Rome: Total War, but if you want one very extensive game with lots and lots of replay value then give Knights of Honor a try. It doesn’t redefine the genre, but I firmly believe that strategy connoisseurs will enjoy it.

Yes, the story is intriguing and wanting to know what happens next will drive most players to battle through the gameplay tedium, but the experience the plot delivers is in no way exceptional and certainly nothing that couldn't be surpassed by the rental of a decent DVD.

Surprisingly pleasant.

Even though the audiovisual performance could still use a fresh coat of paint, the diversified gameplay with distinct sets of character attributes leads to an endless amount of fun for gamers of all ages.

Madagascar certainly delivers for the younger demographic, but those older players may reach critical boredom pretty early on in the game.

Some games are just garbage, and PC gamers are quick to pick up on what is crap and what rules.

By taking the most essential parts of any action game and combining them into one DVD, Cold Winter is a considerably engaging console shooter.

If you are a speed freak who likes a serious single player challenge, you absolutely should check out this game for its solo modes. They are unlike anything found in a PC racing title to date, and will provide you with hours of high octane thrills and spills.

Dreamcatcher, I sincerely hope you go under for this mockery you call a “finished product”. You deserve nothing less.

This title will have you hooked from the beginning until the end, and the open-ended conclusion will leave things up to your imagination to figure out.

An above average action game that fans of the movie are sure to love.

While the customization is very limited, there is still a plethora of cars to select from, each with their own specific feel.

Because this game forces you to think the same way a commander of the same time period would have, Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars is the greatest strategy game on the market.

One of the best MMORPGs on the market today. Whether you are drawn in by the unique guild system, the intense PvP battles, or the even the visually stunning graphics, any gamer can find a reason to play Guild Wars.

Comes across as one of the most involved strategy games for the Playstation 2. Unfortunately, the audio and visual performance delivered was done poorly, so this game will not appear to be as great as it really is from the start.

I hope this review has illuminated the truth for you, and prevented you from making the same mistake others across the Internet have already made when they purchased this pile of smeg.

The game plays well, and although the character abilities aren’t particularly original (elemental attacks, etc.) this is more a criticism of the whole genre, and Kult has a refreshing system to learn and use them. The story is a strong point too, which for an RPG is probably the most important aspect for most players.

Although it is more of an action game at heart with RPG elements as second though, BioWare have yet again created a true work of art.

Definitely a step backwards in the series. By removing the little mini-games and scrapping whatever parts of a story that were present, the latest title destroyed any credibility or potential it may have had.

A great addition to the Midnight Club series. The only disappointing setback is the environmental detail and the bland cars driving in the cities. Just about everything else about MC3 provides for an amazing racing experience.

Joining an overall excellent audio-visual experience with a very lengthy career mode and thrilling multiplayer, Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition is currently the best street racing game available.

From the buggy control schemes to the monotonous gameplay, any gamer will be left with much to be desired.

It is a very difficult game that ramps up exponentially as you progress, but every completed mission leaves you with a satisfied feeling, a sense of accomplishment, like you've made a difference.

Whether you are a follower of the Japanese anime culture, or a dedicated RPG fan, or merely an enthusiastic player looking for something of value, anyone desiring an in-depth gaming experience will love Digital Devil Saga.

Like its forebear, Resurrection of Evil has graphics superior to any other game around.

The best espionage game on the market today.

I would have liked to see a lot more made of the morality and revolutionary talk Doug Shetland brought up in the sole scene he and Sam confront each other with, because his character was really destroyed quite fast in a way that doesn't represent what he was to the series.