While the multiplayer modes offer something worth playing, Contract JACK ultimate disappoints with below-average gameplay unworthy of the series.

A good golf game, but it may disappoint gamers looking for some challenge. The online support is excellent, so if you're looking for some tournament action against live gamers you can't go wrong with Links 2004.

An epic story turned into an average platform game.

Wonderfully entertaining.

Ultimately awful. If this is Ultimate Beach Soccer, then I don't even want to see Mediocre Beach Soccer or Awful Beach Soccer.

Does a good job of providing a realistic, squad-based shooter without letting that realism get in the way of the gameplay.

A great party toy and novelty, but not enough depth for long-term single-player gaming.

If you enjoy strategy games you’ll probably like WotR, although hardcore RTS gamers may find it to be just an average game and only a light challenge.

No game puts you closer to being on a field of battle in World War II than Call of Duty.

Doesn’t make it past the first round of the playoffs. If you want a real champion head over to Sega or EA.

Has enough going for it in terms of graphics and gameplay to make it a better than average shooter.

This is the way The Sims ends, not with a whimper but with a bang.

A little better than your average shooter and worth checking out for the unique Offensive Cover System.

Anyone willing to put in the time and effort, though, will find Empires: Dawn of the Modern World has it where it counts. The basic gameplay is rock-solid, and fans of multiplayer RTS games will get far more than their money's worth out of it.

So much fun to play that you probably wouldn’t be too disappointed if it didn’t support Xbox Live. Oh but it does, and playing Crimson Skies against up to 15 other players is an absolute blast.

A case where the sum is greater than the parts. If you can get past the repetitive gameplay you may actually find a game with a great personality.

Its simple qualities make it easy to pick up and play, but also hurt its long term charm. It won't appeal to all gamers, especially those who prefer action games., but many will find it a fun diversion when gaming on the go.

What do you get when you put together solid controls, a fun story, great action, beautiful graphics, and a game oozing with character? Jak II, one of the best PS2 games of the year.

A cinematic game that plays like an interactive movie, a stylish film noir experience that no gamer should miss.

It can be too repetitive at times and too easy for gamers looking for challenge. However, the spooky theme and familiar Disney settings will make Haunted Mansion an enjoyable diversion for many.

Doesn’t have anywhere near the magic as the movie. Do yourself a favor and rent the movie instead of playing this inadequate title.

Fans of the TV series and casual gamers would do well to give Double or Nothing a try, but it probably won’t appeal to seasoned gamers.

Too bad its strategic and RPG elements fizzle out.

Perhaps if the game actually were funny it could be recommended as a spoof of serious games, but that’s just not the case. You get a basic and bland RPG combined with a basic and bland RTS game, and that’s about it.

A better than average platformer with a great look, a lot of atmosphere, and a few interesting twists on the genre.

If you enjoy SimCity 4, you’re sure to like the new tools and transportation options in Rush Hour. If you found SimCity 4 to be too difficult or to require too much micromanagement, then Rush Hour is probably not for you.

The roleplaying elements have been stripped-down and the play can feel repetitive at times, but all things considered Dungeons & Dragons Heroes is an enjoyable dungeon romp.

Fans of the dungeon crawling genre will have a blast getting lost in the world of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Those virgin to this type of game may be overwhelmed by the wealth of options and complexity of combat.

Homeworld 2 has established itself as the benchmark game in real-time strategy space combat. Its intense difficulty will be a turn off to many casual gamers, though.

You'll be amazed at the game's developers' recreation of Springfield and appreciate their attention to detail in packing in so many references to episodes of the series.

A beacon of innovation to be held aloft for others to follow in its ideals. But the trouble is it doesn't always shine (the game or the weather) and the result is a rather limited and gimmicky appeal.

All XGRA is asking of you is to get in, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride. While it may not be the most incredible ride it is still an enjoyable one, especially for the price.

989 has certainly improved its game in the off-season with a very strong online presence. Unfortunately the actual gameplay will still keep GameDay as a backup for at least one more season.

If you live in a place where it is impossible to get either the EA or Sega football games, then you might want to check out GameBreaker. Then again, I would make a road trip instead.

More style than substance, but action game fans owe it to themselves to check out this stylish and atmospheric offering.

Xbox Live gamers should seriously consider hooking into XSN with NFL Fever 2004. For everyone else, the game will be more appealing to the casual football gamer than the hardcore veteran crowd.

The game does a good job of capturing the look of Scooby Doo, but has none of its spirit.

Ghost Master can be frighteningly fun, but lacks the substance to make everyone a believer.

If you're a Buffy fan, rejoice and go forth and slay.

Tries to bring realism to a game that really should have more of a fun arcadey-fun feel to it. So if you’re into tennis in a big way and can overlook some of the funkiness of this game you may have found your match.

A must buy for Xbox Live players.

There is enough variety to the missions that the game will keep you challenged to the end. If you're looking for a change of pace from your typical strategy game, give Emergency Fire Response a look.

It does a good job of keeping in the spirit of the film's storybook setting, and its quality graphics won't disappoint. However, platform players will find it too short and will be disappointed in the lack of puzzles and overall challenge in the game's levels.

Shadow Magic carries on the Age of Wonders series' tradition of fine turn-based strategy gameplay, and the changes introduced by the game should please both Age of Wonders veterans and gamers new to the series.

Not a huge game, taking about twenty hours to finish in all, but is packed with some of the scariest moments I have encountered in my gaming life.

The stunts are a little lackluster, but the downhill racing delivers plenty of high-speed thrills.

The story is engrossing, complete with plot turns and surprises, and although it starts slowly you'll soon be complete caught up in it.

An attempt to bring a new and realistic fighting game to a market that isn’t into the sport. This game is not going to win over any new fans for the K-1 world.

Angels? Angels from hell sent to torture poor gamers perhaps...

The Frozen Throne adds an entire new game's worth of gameplay to Warcraft III, so if you enjoyed Warcraft III then you should not hesitate to pick up The Frozen Throne.

Its gameplay is competent, but not challenging enough to hold the interest of sports game players for the long term. Think of it as a day at the beach during the summer - a nice little diversion with some pleasant scenery.

With a clunky interface, poor control, and frustrations aplenty, it should be sent to Davy Jones' locker.

Graphically the game looks good, but thanks to its console roots does not match the best looking games available.

What can you say about yet another extreme dirt biking game? You can say they have now made one too many. Leave this one in the dust.

Puzzles in the absence of a plot can be a relaxing distraction to some, and a painful chore for others. Consider me one of the others. I found myself extremely bored playing this game.

It was definitely interesting to play a game that to some extent had the look and feel of an "Age of Empires," yet with game play focused on mission accomplishment as opposed to strategic planning (i.e. no need to develop your trade economy or make sure you have enough lumber to build houses).

A better than average RPG. Woo-hoo…

A nice RPG for the GBA that even gamers who aren’t too familiar with the series will enjoy. If you’re already a fan, all the better.

The one compliant that I have about the Xbox Live part really has nothing to do with the game as it handles the online play flawlessly, but rather the players who show up. I suppose it’s just the price you have to pay to be online, but do I really have to hear people that are just plain mean-spirited and vulgar every time I go online? Probably.

A weekend rental for those looking for a big rig fix, but it has trouble keeping its momentum up over the long haul.

A detailed trading sim for merchants, but too much budgeting and not enough buccaneering to recommend to pirate fans.

An adrenaline-packed rush of a ride.

Well worth a rental to get out all your pent up hostilities.

Lots of weapons for lots of shooting for shooter fans who love to shoot.

It is unique in that the game is sometimes more like the James Bond games when Banner is on screen, sometimes cerebral when Banner needs to solve a puzzle, sometimes like a shooting game when the Hulk is rampaging, and sometimes like a fighting game when you really need to master the Hulk’s moves in order to defeat the worst of your enemies.

One of, if not the only, Indy style racer out there. So if you’re a big Indy fan then this is your game.

A well-designed, well-executed paragon of strategy gaming, although mouse-click maniacs may be disappointed that the game requires more thought than the typical RTS.

Too simple and shallow for baseball fans, too many gameplay issues for arcade sports fans - Inside Pitch 2003 is destined to be a benchwarmer.

It be a poor portrayal of the pirate's life, says I.

A supercharged expansion for sims seeking the spotlight. You've really got to want it though, as achieving superstar status takes quite a bit of work.

Has its challenging and enjoyable moments, but it has its share of problems too.

An even better storyline and a city with a lot more character.

An exhilarating and addicting arcade racing experience wrapped in some great looking graphics.

Agent Sam Fisher's adventures on the GBA aren't as engrossing as they are on console versions of the game, but you still get some fun stealth-based gameplay on the go.

Tube Slider's biggest flaw of all, though, is that it just isn't all that much fun. After your first play session with the game you'll have too strong of a "been there, done that" feeling to want to spend much more time with it.

The game never seems to take cheap shots at you, it just happens to take a lot of shots at you. So when you die, you only have yourself to blame. Well, that and about a million bullets!

Sets the standard that all future stealth action games on the GameCube will be measured against.

The most enjoyable arcade racer to come along in quite some time. It's not an easy game though, and the easily frustrated may give up on it.

Tries to deliver a varied and immersive gaming experience, but just doesn't deliver.

A blast to play, even for those who are not big fans of racing games. It's easy to pick up and play, and the variety of modes and tracks keeps things interesting for a long time.

Argh, it's good to be the pirate king! But it'd be even better if you could do some of the plundering yourself.

The control is top-notch. Some of the moves you do rely on very precise movements and you always feel that you are in total control.

It is not a strategy game, but a poorly designed puzzle game. The puzzles are poorly explained and the solutions obscure and not really logical. The only challenge in the game is avoiding frustration-induced madness. This is just not my idea of fun.

It's "Civilization" set in space, and the result is an enjoyable strategy game but one that does not fully realize its potential.

If you love the show, then you'll probably enjoy the game. Other gamers will probably find it too simple and too short.

The game's arcade-like action can be fun at times, but its difficulty level and lack of mid-mission saves will quickly make it too frustrating for many players.

Vietcong can provide some tense and enjoyable gameplay, but also serves up some very frustrating levels that will try the patience of many gamers. With a bit more polish and consistent level design Vietcong would be a really good game.

Bon Appetite!

While I don’t have any huge complaints overall with Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis, it just seems to be missing something and at times the action is slow and tedious.

Those with a taste for all things gothic will probably love Primal, as will many other gamers However, its high production values are hampered somewhat by its underdeveloped fighting engine, simple puzzles, and slow pacing.

Not a bad game for really patient people who love dinosaurs. If you don't fit into those groups then you probably won't like it.

A unique life-simulator that is definitely worth a look for its novelty alone.

A dangerously addictive game that you have to carefully monitor yourself with or you may find many, many hours of your own life missing while your Sim is living the good life.

Amplitude has two great qualities going for it: it's addictive to play and the music really pumps you up. This is one of those rare games where it is actually fun to go back and replay the levels you've already cleared.

The blurry graphics and amateur acting detract from what is otherwise a very immersive gaming experience, but seasoned adventure gamers should still find a lot to explore and discover in this latest offering from The Adventure Company.

A nice platformer with good style and funny moments. Unfortunately, the camera and lock-on problems are no laughing matter.

If you're looking for a game that concentrates on the fun aspects of the sport, a throwback to the days when baseball games were a fast and fun arcade experience, then you've come to the right place.

It is a bit more accessible to casual gamers who may want to give the game a look if they find that the realism of other games makes playing them too difficult or involved.