If the online play gets up and running, there’s no doubt that the game should be rated an ‘A’. You could even make a case for it as a system seller for any baseball fan—MLB The Show is just that good.

There are a few niggling problems and annoyances on and off the field that keep the game from being picture perfect, but by and large, MLB The Show 08 for the PS2 offers a very realistic and entertaining brand of baseball.

Quibbles aside, MLB 08 The Show packs quite a bit into this smaller platform and it makes a great companion to the console counterpart and is easily the best handheld baseball game on the market.

All in all if you miss the quaint old town and feel like returning for old time's sake then Origins mostly satisfies.

It is a bad sign when you are unable to choose your difficulty level right from the beginning and the game makes you go through the easier difficulties in order to get to the truly difficult ones.

Barring one heck of a patch from 2k Sports, there’s no magic pill to cure all that ails this game. The legacy of developer 2k Los Angeles (formerly Kush Games) continues to be the delivery of high-potential but brutally flawed games that lack considerable polish.

Barring one heck of a patch from 2k Sports, there’s no magic pill to cure all that ails this game. The legacy of developer 2k Los Angeles (formerly Kush Games) continues to be the delivery of high-potential but brutally flawed games that lack considerable polish.

For every “wow” moment there’s a commensurate “what the heck” moment that drains the fun. Head-to-head players and single season players will have plenty of fun with this game, despite its warts. Franchise players—move on, there’s nothing to see here.

Folks who have been watching the show from the first episode won’t find any new answers about the island, and those used to a more robust adventure game experience will be put off by the boring, simplistic game play.

The opening sequence is one of the most memorable in recent memory but it is almost as if the developers spent all of their creative energy on it leaving the rest of the game to degenerate into a bland, plot-less mess.

The opening sequence is one of the most memorable in recent memory but it is almost as if the developers spent all of their creative energy on it leaving the rest of the game to degenerate into a bland, plot-less mess.

Folks who have been watching the show from the first episode won’t find any new answers about the island, and those used to a more robust adventure game experience will be put off by the boring, simplistic game play.

Folks who have been watching the show from the first episode won’t find any new answers about the island, and those used to a more robust adventure game experience will be put off by the boring, simplistic game play.

Patapon is a bargain for the price. It’s a fun game that combines many genres into one package and is a great reason to dust off the PSP and start playing again – just make sure you have headphones.

If there’s a complaint, it’s just that we’re left wanting more – where’s Comet and Cyclone and High Speed? Let’s just hope that Crave is saving them for Pinball Hall of Fame Volume 2. Until that game is released, this is definitely one game that I’ll keep playing – it’s highly recommended.

Overall, Frontlines has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had this year – particularly online. It’s too bad about the control, graphical draw in and short length of the single player game but the multiplayer portion saves it from the bargain bin of doom.

Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None is a smart adventure game with solid puzzles and a top-notch mystery, but its dated visuals and slow pace will have limited appeal for players who are used to more modern fare.

While the game is a fast and furious stylized shooter, one of the biggest faults the title has is with how muddy the controls feel.

While the game is a fast and furious stylized shooter, one of the biggest faults the title has is with how muddy the controls feel.

A game that fails to deliver. The visuals and sound are mediocre. The battle system is repetitive and mind-numbing. The level design is linear. The story is confusing and lacks depth.

A worthy successor to the Phoenix Wright series, even if the first outing seems a little too eager to hold on to the characters from its predecessor.

While not every change has been positive, the series was in desperate need of a fresh start, and now, in its sixth major iteration, it has one.

While not every change has been positive, the series was in desperate need of a fresh start, and now, in its sixth major iteration, it has one.

It lacks pace, but makes up for it with skills and basic soccer strategy. What it lacks is teams and depth in its gameplay modes.

It lacks pace, but makes up for it with skills and basic soccer strategy. What it lacks is teams and depth in its gameplay modes.

A perfect way to get turn based strategy gaming onto the 360. It is easy enough for anyone to pick up and play, but has some of the strategy genre staples that will get people deeper into the hobby.

Conflict: Denied Ops offers many of the best features that you’ll find in today’s first person shooters, and combines it with an excellent co-op mode and a nice variety of online game modes.

It’s sad to see a beloved series sink so low—like watching a childhood friend fall to drink and destitution, stumbling into the street to be hit by a truck.

Conflict: Denied Ops offers many of the best features that you’ll find in today’s first person shooters, and combines it with an excellent co-op mode and a nice variety of online game modes.

There are definitely some truly scary moments in Penumbra: Black Plague, and the story is good enough to make you want to find out how everything all turns out at the end. Don't clear your calendar to play it, but if your gaming slate is clear, and you're in the mood for a bit of horror, consider giving it a try.

Loving Lost Odyssey means being able to stand its technical instability, loading times, and traditional gameplay. Latching onto the unique ring system and its tightly-wound narrative can get you through the pain of these flaws--only to a certain extent.

One of the finest debuts of a new IP in some time and does an incredible job of combining two areas the DS seems to have been made for: puzzles and adventure gaming. The addictive gameplay, twisting story, charming characters and beautifully drawn animation makes this a game that neither puzzle fans, nor adventure game fans should miss.

The new and improved Turok is easily the best since it left its roots on the Nintendo 64. Even though the title takes great liberties with some of the lore it manages to retain its integrity while at the same time delivering on a completely over the top albeit predictable experience.

The new and improved Turok is easily the best since it left its roots on the Nintendo 64. Even though the title takes great liberties with some of the lore it manages to retain its integrity while at the same time delivering on a completely over the top albeit predictable experience.

Regardless of its obvious shortcomings, Culdcept Saga is an addictive, unique and just plain fun little game that is jam packed with content.

Even with its repetitiveness and awkward camera angles, Devil May Cry 4 provides a solid addition to the series and even towards the end, with its descent into a puddle of annoyance, the game features some exceptional gameplay and cinematics.

Even with its repetitiveness and awkward camera angles, Devil May Cry 4 provides a solid addition to the series and even towards the end, with its descent into a puddle of annoyance, the game features some exceptional gameplay and cinematics.

It’s definitely worth a rental; especially if you have enjoyed the original game as it tells the story of how the characters got to that point, and frustrations and limitations aside, the time spent playing the game is enjoyable – it’s just over way too soon.

Given the low $30 street price it’s worth a look for anybody feeling the pure adventure-game genre is dead. I truly hope the developers are encouraged to develop a sequel to the title with some added refinements. The game deserves it.

Blending deep, intricate 4X design into the world of real-time gaming was a daunting task to say the least, but Ironclad and Stardock have pulled it off and in the end have created one of the best strategy games of the past few years.

Bomberman Land isn’t worth a purchase on any level. The story mode’s cut scenes are boring and consume way too much play time, the mini games are dull and endlessly repetitive and the battle mode, while fun, is available elsewhere for much less.

With all there is to do in the game, it’s a shame that it isn’t more interesting. For the most part, the touch controls work well and there’s plenty of variety to the events, but for some reason, Mario and Sonic at the Olympics doesn’t really hold your interest once you’ve played each event once.

The City is enormous and beautiful, the cars are amazingly detailed, and the control is divine.

The City is enormous and beautiful, the cars are amazingly detailed, and the control is divine.

A truly satisfying adult game on the Wii—which is a true rarity. This game may not be everyone’s cup of tea with the violence, language and mature subject matter that hits you from everywhere, but despite the rated R subject matter, there is no denying that this is one of the best games available on the system.

The game claims to score brain development, but there is no baseline testing, so getting a high score at the start seems to invalidate the whole process. What are you being compared to when receiving a 100% score? In the end, this game lacks punch.

Greater variety in ship types and missions would be nice. A greater sense of threat and better damage modeling (especially rips below the waterline or actual sinking instead of simply stopping) would help a lot.

Endless Ocean is a unique experience that showcases the Wii in a whole new way, and at $29.99, the game represents a good value. You’ll never have the same dive twice, and it’s nice to have a game the kids can play where a shark won’t accidentally eat them.

The game isn’t completely mind blowing, but it does very few things wrong and is easily the best release of the series on the DS platform to date.

The lack of innovation isn't what causes the game to suffer; instead, it's a bunch of minor nagging flaws that prevent it from being perfect. Still, in the end the thrilling ship combat and deep economic model thrusts the game into the upper tier of current MMOs.

Even though Katana shares the same “slaughter everyone” overall goal, the on rails approach combined with the Wiimote/nunchuck control system may turn off previous fans and will do little to attract new ones.

It’s a one-trick pony for the most part, but worth a rental at least for arcade racing fans.

NFL Tour isn’t just bad. It’s other-worldy bad...It was my hope that in this case less would be more, but unfortunately less is less. We are left with a completely boring and terrible game that I think could be justification for the NFL to revoke the license.

NFL Tour isn’t just bad. It’s other-worldy bad...It was my hope that in this case less would be more, but unfortunately less is less. We are left with a completely boring and terrible game that I think could be justification for the NFL to revoke the license.

Die hard fans of the show will enjoy it, however with no replay value whatsoever and an extremely short play time, there’s not much justification for buying it. Those that aren’t into the show’s scatological sense of humor, or those looking for a deep courtroom experience won’t find much here.

Die hard fans of the show will enjoy it, however with no replay value whatsoever and an extremely short play time, there’s not much justification for buying it. Those that aren’t into the show’s scatological sense of humor, or those looking for a deep courtroom experience won’t find much here.

With poor cover songs, a limited song selection, horrible graphics and a lack of online play, the game doesn’t really have much going for it. Even the kids preferred the original DDR SuperNova to this game—a major disappointment.

GripShift is one of the best XBLA racing games available. The game is just too damn varied, wacky, and all around fun to summarize it any other way, and the feature-packed content makes it well worth the 800 point price tag.

A disappointment. It’s still fun and new gamers who haven’t played the original will like it much more than players who were here from day one.

Just keep your expectations for it measured and with the understanding that it ultimately peaks with the skiing and loses its luster from there.

Misery may love company, but your company will hate you for inflicting this game upon them.

Simply put, Godzilla Unleashed is a horrible game—all 17 painful stages.

With four character story lines to complete, dozens of bullets to find, multiplayer modes and the ability to create custom beat combos, there’s a lot to do in Draglade, it’s just not all that exciting to actually do it.

A mildly recommended title for the singleplayer crowd. I’m not sure if competitive gamers will find anything new or exciting in the game’s multiplayer maps, but I really enjoyed the scripted pacing of the singleplayer campaign.

The fast and frenetic shooting action combined with the number of levels more than makes up the 25 dollar difference.

A very beautiful, very enticing Arcade title, but one that can quickly lose its luster after some time.

Mass Effect is a gorgeous, thought-provoking adventure that is as captivating as action-packed. While it hasn't undergone the polish it deserves, that doesn't prevent it from emerging as one of the best examples of the artistry to be achieved in the development of a game.

Everything about this game, from the simplistic graphics and the incoherent story to the lack of a workable save system and the horrible hit detection speak to a rushed effort. Even the manual is filled with errors, with the table of contents pointing to sections that don’t exist.

An unparalleled, one-of-a-kind experience that represents the very best that gaming has to offer.

If you like shooting terrorists who look like they walked off the set of “The A Team”, and really who doesn’t, then Ghost Squad will provide plenty of enjoyable, mindless fun.

Soul Calibur Legends isn’t a horrible game; it just doesn’t add anything exciting or new to a third person action adventure genre. It’s over relatively fast and it feels more like an unlockable to the original Soul Calibur than a standalone full priced videogame.

Overall Time Crisis 4 is a fun shooting game but it’s pretty tough to recommend at a $90 price point, especially since a 2nd player on the same console would require a second gun that you can’t purchase at this time. The mission mode is a nice addition, but a multiplayer online mode would have been more welcomed.

Godzilla Unleashed lacks the vibrant, larger-than-life, destructive mayhem of other Godzilla titles, and there really aren't enough redeeming qualities otherwise to warrant a purchase…or even a rental.

A disappointment when you look at it against the last two games in the series. The elimination of an open world environment and police chases takes any adrenaline rush that was in the last couple games and puts you in decidedly static game mechanics.

Shadowgrounds Survivor is about delivering an overdose of frenetic arcade action, and in that vein, it’s just what the doctor ordered.

Beautiful, action-packed, and fully featured, Crysis is a shining example of how a first-person shooters ought to play.

It would be a finer experience without those nuisances, but they do little to diminish the sense of awe you feel when watching the sun rise over Jerusalem from atop the Dome of the Rock, drinking in the sight of the ancient city, and looking for your next victim.

The Resident Evil essence is intact and will spark some nostalgia for fans of the series, but take that name away and the game is essentially an incredibly average shooter that really does little to shake up the genre norm.

The large variety of fighters, the deep fighting model, and the compelling story that unfolds throughout the game play modes makes this one worth a look.

The game is a lot of fun, even if the challenge level is out of this world. If you’ve been around for all 20 years of Contra, this is a must purchase.

If you're a fan of old school, simple role-playing and haven't had the pleasure of playing the mobile version, then Orcs & Elves is a grand diversion that won't leave you feeling like someone stole $30 from your wallet.

Medal of Honor Heroes 2 won’t be winning any awards for mission originality, or AI for that matter, but the gameplay it serves is up is solid and fast paced with the best FPS controls on the WIi to date.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is not a hard game to recommend and you should really run out and get it if you have a PS2 and no other system. This game has been through a whirlwind of praise and this version is no different.

Those happy with the original and just looking for new recipes will find plenty to do here and may enjoy the challenge of cooking without Mama to help out. Those that weren’t impressed with Mama’s first outing won’t find anything here to change their mind.

A hackneyed premise that flirts with the same issues of terrorism examined in scores of other shooters hardly makes an impact here.

There's an amazing amount of depth in Fire Pro Wrestling Returns but if you can't get by the way the game mechanics work, the way it looks or its archaic menu system then you should just keep walking because there's nothing to see here.

Underwhelming multiplayer is easily overlooked; however, issues with the camera are harder to forgive. Maintaining simple control over the view or providing a faultless automatic camera is a must for platform games and Super Mario Galaxy falls flat in this regard. Everything else works wonderfully.

There is definitely value to be had in Midway’s Ultimate Mortal Kombat for the Nintendo DS. While it doesn’t bring anything new to the table, the tried and true gameplay works very nicely on the handheld and is a great pick up and play game for those times when you’re waiting for the bus to pick you up or have 15 to 30 minutes to kill.

At the end of the day Avencast is a solid action role-playing game with some great puzzles and a combat system that tries to do things differently.

If the game was a bit cheaper and clocked in at something like 400 points instead, it might be a bit easier to recommend – but for 800 points Word Puzzle will definitely need some more content released to stay afloat.

Unfortunate camera and combat issues aside, Silent Hill Origins is a worthy addition to the series and should scare the socks off even the most jaded survival horror devotee.

A refreshing change from the well-worn gameplay Koei has become famous for, and the epic battles provide a satisfying fix for loyal fans of the genre.

If you enjoy micromanaging monsters and think Poemon is for babies, then you will be hard pressed to find a deeper game than Joker on the market.

Add in gameplay flaws and a shallow experience, and this game is sure to turn off even some of the biggest Empire Earth fans.

The game is all over the map. The story is interesting and gives a little peek into Japanese society. The graphics are fantastic, but the music is horrible. Finally, the fact you can’t actually do anything to affect any of the game’s outcomes is somewhat ridiculous, and in the end makes it difficult to recommend.

Its entire purpose is to extend the base game with the same fundamental gameplay.

It’s overpriced and undervalued.

If you dig the F.E.A.R. universe and haven't quite gotten your fill of its particular style of clone-killing, office-trashing gameplay, then by all means, give it a go, just bear in mind that you're not likely to enjoy it as much as the original. But if you didn't particularly enjoy F.E.A.R., or are just looking for the best shooter out there, you're better of skipping it.