Beatdown is a solid fighting themed action role-playing game brought down a notch by too much area transition loading and some limited promised features (like the ability to interrogate every character in the game).

The game modes aren’t as fleshed out as the other versions of the game.

The same incredible acrobatic moves and puzzles are included with this little bundle of joy, as is the story line that continues from the "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time."

The most difficult part for most will be getting used to using the shoulder buttons to turn Frogger. Most people are used to simply using the d-Pad to do this in most other games, so using a different method might be hard to get used to. But if you can get past that, Frogger offers a myriad of different and fun activities that both kids and adults can enjoy.

If this were a console game, I’d be rather upset with the limited number of play modes; however the modes fit the PSP perfectly and makes a good pick up and play game.

You’re left with a light filler card game that has nowhere near the staying power of the other board game ports that are on XBL.

At the end of the day Shadowrun can be fun if you ignore the poor use of the brand on which it is based and the intermittent connectivity problems.

Phantom Brave still feels like a fairly original game. If you passed on it the first time, it's worth a look if you don’t expect anything too new.

The game needs a little more spit and polish before it can assume its proper place in the Pantheon.

It’s a shame there’s no internet play, and you’ll need to take frequent breaks to avoid hand injuries, but the game definitely passes the time and is enjoyable.

Divinity II is the kind of game that falls neatly into the category of "guilty pleasure" for me. It's an RPG that doesn't really break new ground, but plays well enough and provides a challenge.

Other than the controls of the weapons and poor aiming model, the great graphics and fantastic voice over work help make Army of Two a solid if unspectacular outing.

That being said, the game is well worth playing, for both kids and adults, as the nanogames are well done, Patchy the Pirate is hilarious and the art style is fantastic. If the game had more nanogames and a more compelling 3D implementation it'd be a different story, but as it is, it's tough to recommend for the price.

Ultimately, if you like Metallica (a lot), and if you like the standard Guitar Hero gameplay formula, then this game is well worth the price of admission. If you don’t meet both those criteria, however, you really should move on.

Unfortunately, for adults, the core tennis game doesn’t present any real challenge. This is one best purchased for the kids.

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.

But the core mechanics of Yakuza – fighting and futzing around in this collection of city bits – are simply too disjointed to bear up under the fifteen or so hours it takes to reach the payoff.

If you like combat-heavy action games and don’t mind a little repetition, and you consider yourself a Star Wars fan, you’ll have a great time with The Force Unleashed. It’s far from perfect, but as the score up top reflects, it’s worth the ride.

It's apparent that EA didn't set aside a large budget for the development of this game. College baseball is merely a niche sport in the world of video games, and I have to wonder about EA’s commitment to the series in the long term, especially since it was released for the PS2 only.

Those technicalities take a pretty good game and drag it down into the realm of mediocrity. Still, automatic weapons during a Civil War battle…it’s hard to pass that up.

Hands On!: Tangrams is a basic, casual affair of a puzzler that is perfect for killing a few minutes here and there as you go about your day. For twenty bucks the game provides a ton of puzzles in a genre not usually represented in video gaming despite having been around for hundreds of years.

Watching Victoria II is hypnotic and frequently awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, you only occasionally might want to play it.

There's enough new features, tweaks to the old systems and content to satisfy those folks still enamored with the world of Aranna.

Hot Shots Tennis, as you'd expect, looks like a kid’s game, sounds like a kid’s game, has the depth of a kid’s game, but plays a very mature and fun game of tennis. Unfortunately, it's just not challenging enough and it doesn't have enough longevity for experienced sports gamers.

I could further bemoan the lack of character customization, the mash-a-licious combat system, and the (mostly) fluid yet barebones platforming, but sometimes we all need a little simplicity. Like a Jason Statham action flick, Afro Samurai won’t change your life in any meaningful way, but it’s perfect for those days when you want to sink into the couch, turn off your brain, and watch some bloody entertainment.

While this game doesn't break any boundaries and delivers some somewhat clichéd anime style storytelling, there's no denying that the game offers an underlying charm that fans of the genre can sink their collective teeth into.

Still a solid, fun game and fans of the series are probably going to enjoy this installment too. On the downside we have a game that has not seen much innovation, is not that aesthetically attractive and has fairly annoying camera problems.

Until then, I'm still going to say this game is definitely worth a look - just be aware of what you're getting into before forking over the extra cash for the nigh-indefinite-length subscription options they offer.

For those really on the fence, I'd say give this game a bit of time and come back in about a month or two as the developers try to work their post release magic.

A pretty solid role-playing experience that will be familiar and well received by fans of GUST's other RPG titles. The Dive system is an interesting idea but it would have been nice if it was a little more interactive.

What you are left with is a great 2-player game, a lot of features that the well established fan base most likely won’t care about (even though Backtrack and Rewind are both pretty good ideas), a half-baked online league system, and gameplay that is at times highly polished and entertaining yet also plagued by AI issues.

In the end this is a by the numbers shooter with slick graphics, and ample opportunity to shoot supercharged Nazis. It's not going to win any awards but it's worth checking out if you’re looking for a weekend to pass the time shooting everyone's favorite bad guys.

The problem isn’t that Tales of Valor lacks any quality features or commendable traits, but that it doesn’t really do anything with them.

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

It's a $10 download with a decent amount of content so that's hardly a liability, but it's impossible to shake the feeling that it's a very minor title with a short shelf life. It's perfect for a rainy day but most players will likely warp out shortly after the credits roll.

The online mode is very bare bones – there are rankings, but that’s about it.

Dragonshard has so much going for it: great graphics, good sound, an entertaining and functional setting, innovative elements like the home base structuring and the familiarity of the D&D license.

In the end Singularity is a decidedly average shooter with a pretty novel storyline.

The excellent platforming still remains, but this Prince seems to have lost a little of himself in coming back to his roots.

At the end of the day X-Men Origins: Wolverine offers a fun, albeit repetitive romp as one of comics' most savage characters.

To be fair, Paradox and Arrowhead are doing a lot of work to fix the game's issues and it is, as of this writing, in a far better state than when it shipped, but the fact remains that my group has suffered crashes at the end of three separate chapters, which forces a complete chapter redo, and as cute as Magicka is, that's not funny.

If you're willing to use the wonderful fast-forward button and focus your attention on the important parts of the game, then YS SEVEN is well worth the money and your time. On the other hand, if you are foolish enough to take in the entire story, please don't blame me – I tried to warn you.

Superstars V8 Racing is a decent enough racer for the price, it looks great, and it's got enough content that you won't feel cheated for spending $20 as you wait for Sony's behemoth.

Honestly, I don't know if you'll enjoy these original Ys games, but as an old school gamer that is still in love with the classics, I greatly appreciate being able to play them again. Your enjoyment will be limited by your ability to handle unforgiving combat and a red haired protagonist that has no voice.

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

There are moments when it's quite good, but it's also a bit too derivative, the enemies are as dumb as a box of hair, and it relies too much on the coolness of the magnet gun and the ability to knock down a tower with a hammer.

Ultimately, if you've had your fill of Halo 2 on the Xbox then there's not a lot to lure you to buy the game again for the PC.

As it stands it’s a highly enjoyable game for the first few hours, but whether or not you’ll get much satisfaction from it after it starts getting repetitive depends entirely on how much you like the overall gameplay mechanics.

Axel and Pixel isn't breaking any new ground with its adventure puzzles but it does offer a fanciful and (mostly) low pressure gaming experience filled with plenty of delightful touches.

But the reality of a game in this class is that gamers may leave the whole thing to die, waiting for price drops or getting their fill of it over the course of a weekend rental.

Just don’t expect anything revolutionary…and make sure you play it with the sound turned down; the music sounds like it was whipped up on a circa-1988 Casio keyboard.

An upgrade in terms of pure on the course play; it’s technically a better game than 07, but the overall design remains so dull and workmanlike that it feels like a job at times more than a game, and is only recommended for those who like playing the mini games and hopping online rather than for those who just want to jump in and start playing tournaments.

This is a gorgeous, unique, emotion-filled game. It looks and sounds great, and I dare you to find another game that makes you misty-eyed as often as this one does.

GRID is absolutely your best bet if you’ve got a craving for racing on your DS (sans turtle shells and banana peels), and it’ll keep you busy for quite some time.

Load times and database creation times are reasonable. Baseball Mogul 2007 is a satisfying game and for $19.99, you’ll sure get your money’s worth.

The lack of multiplayer and the agonizing repetition still unfortunately knock this game a notch below its predecessors, but a few fantastic adventures toward the end await those who can pull through.

Mindjack is an ingenuous bit of design that belongs in a much better game. With any luck, someone with a more spirited sense for how to build a shooter will steal the idea.

The backstory is light, the characters are sometimes charming (and sometimes goofy) and the world is everything you'd expect to find in a Japanese RPG.

Street basketball is all about over the top game play. However, it’s more fun when you feel like you’re making those moves, instead of watching it unfold on the screen with minimal interaction.

Sega's Arcade Hits Pack is like a great piece of gum: it's not exactly fulfilling, but it's fine while it lasts.

This is a game for people who feel "regular" soccer is too slow and methodical. It's like watching those old And One basketball tapes or going to a Globetrotters game. It's technically soccer but it's faster, looser, not terribly realistic and ideal to play against a buddy when there's 30 minutes to kill and you want to get in a handful of matches and talk a little smack in the process.

At the end of the day X-Men Origins: Wolverine offers a fun, albeit repetitive romp as one of comics' most savage characters.

Overall the game does little to elevate itself beyond being fleetingly entertaining, and other than really enjoying the combat itself there is little reason to stick around for too long.

Repetitive puzzles and poor camera control will have you cursing as often as you are laughing.

I wouldn't say that Dragon Quest VI is a bad game, it just lacks a lot of the modern conveniences that JRPGs have incorporated since the game was initially released.

Despite offering an assortment of weapons and a nifty “iron sights” aiming system to boot, Call of Cthulhu is clearly not a combat-oriented game.

Tony Hawk fans will probably find Tony Hawk's American Wasteland a must-buy, but I really think the franchise is starting to get as overexposed as Mega Man.

This game will take you a bit of time to beat, but asking $40 might be a bit on the high side.

What you are left with is a great 2-player game, a lot of features that the well established fan base most likely won’t care about (even though Backtrack and Rewind are both pretty good ideas), a half-baked online league system, and gameplay that is at times highly polished and entertaining yet also plagued by AI issues.

All things considered, there is a place for Greed: fans of the point-and-click "Diablo" style of gameplay will find quite a lot to enjoy here, and for all of its quirks, it still does offer a pretty immersive universe to delve into and all for 20 bucks.

Overall, NBA Street Homecourt is leaps and bounds better than EA’s other basketball game, NBA Live, but still isn’t gaming perfection.

Granted, I fell asleep playing it.

Though the game has it's fun points, it comes off as somewhat bland, and you may be a little disappointed.

With the large amount of areas Pipe Dreams 3D has plenty of gamelife, plus the game does get truly addictive after the first few times.

After you get past the learning curve of the controls and the darkness of the graphics, the game is definitely worth checking out. Even with the exclusion of the multiplayer features, the single player adventure will be enough to satisfy the average gamer.

I think the X-box magic is starting to wear off.

What makes this game rise above its humble beginnings are the tons of unlockable characters and the six different environments.

Some kid games are fun for adults, Backyard Soccer is not one of those games but it is very well done game for younger kids.

You actually have to use EVERY button on the controller, pretty much all at the same time, or at least be able to access them quickly. The Xbox controller is large and the buttons are small, the game action moves fast. You do the math.

There's a total of eight rounds, and the story is still genius (if you like extremely quirky non-sequitors), but I don't feel like I'm getting a new game. More like Parappa Version 1.2.

It's got great potential, even high expectations, and in every department there is some glaring detail that cannot be overlooked. Had there been just a little more time spent with it, tweaking the small things here and there, it could have been a surefire hit.

Ah yes, the joy of a horribly translated yet strangely satisfying gun came finds itself unexpectedly on American shores.

Sadly, after a promising start the game falls into the pattern of a rather unremarkable shooter, with a hurried storyline, bland weaponry, and undeveloped characters that just happen to be placed in a Wild West setting.

There's a ridiculous amount of flickering and billions of jaggies per square inch. There's also a small amount of slowdown when there are a lot of enemies on screen as well as some background animations.

If there is one thing the Mortal Kombat series is good at, its giving you the bloodiest way to beat somebody's ass.

If Illusion Softworks can solve the load-time issues and bump up the graphics a little for the Xbox version, they may have a winner on consoles as big as the one they had on PC.

If you're a Crazy Taxi or Simpsons fanatic, this game will definitely appeal to you. If you don't care much about either, don't bother.

[It] blow chunks. It's bland, it's repetitive, it's looked the same since it went to PS2 the first time around.

What makes this game rise above its humble beginnings are the tons of unlockable characters and the six different environments.

Like the other Hunter games, features a limp sound track, silly dialog, and giant swarms of monsters. It's also really meant to be played multiplayer; the person playing by themselves is likely to end up frustrated by the amount of baddies and the punishing difficulty of boss battles.

The wacky control requirements kill any desire to play the game. If you have a lot of patience, and a weird sense of humor, you may get a kick out of Illbleed.

It's enjoyable but short, easy to learn but difficult to master, with a character who isn't quite compelling enough for the title to stand out in a genre that has too long been crowded and cutthroat.

The problem with Nexagon is that the gameplay isn't enjoyable because of the all the elements that don't gel together in a cohesive way. The AI doesn't always work.

This system is dead, and the best that you can hope for is a game that will keep your interest for a few hours, and D-Ball does it.

The cel-shaded gimmick quickly proves unable to support an otherwise unremarkable title, falling to the roadside next to ragdoll physics and destructible terrain.

A game that is less than its originator, in almost every way.

However, if you are a fan of the Mission: Impossible movies and of stealth games such as "Splinter Cell" and in general, then you will want to check this out if for nothing more than seeing what the IMF team is up to nowadays.

This PSX game is a complete mess from excessively square graphics to the point of almost block-head-looking-players. Plus commentating that seems 10 to 15 seconds slow.