Delivers a high-concept sci-fi setting, a load of innovative gameplay, and beautiful graphics. And though it falls short in a few areas, it's still a breath of fresh air in a genre in need of it.

Sure, there are oodles of new animations and gameplay options, but many key issues went untouched. It's still a great choice for anyone who likes a realistic pace to their NBA video games, but it's not the defining basketball simulation that many were hoping for.

If you're looking for pure platforming action with plenty of variety, Kirby's latest adventure most certainly fits the bill.

When you race through the new courses and then through the original courses, it almost feels like you're playing two different games--one that truly captures water racing and another that gives small little tastes of what it can be like.

It looks gorgeous, sounds great, and plays at least as well as many of the classics of yesteryear.

Packs in a good number of different playable characters and great-looking graphics into an easy, but fairly lengthy adventure. It all combines to form a great action RPG with strong action and a well-told story.

An excellent, well-put-together action adventure game that most fans of the genre should be able to enjoy and any Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan will love.

Ultimately, Madden NFL 06 is a highly playable game of football, but in comparison with the leaps forward the franchise has made in previous years, 06 feels like a false start.

The Extreme Contest can get pretty fast and furious. Again, the Extreme G gameplay is much different from similar-looking racing titles. The bikes are firmly planted on the ground, and the game is as much about battling opponents as it is about racing, giving it a very competitive feel in more ways than one.

A top-notch production from top to bottom, and the experience of playing it is surely worth the time of any 3D action adventure fan.

Admittedly, most of the improvements and updates found in Round 3 are merely incremental updates over Round 2, but they're still enough to warrant stepping into the ring for another bout, just as long as you haven't already played the game on the Xbox 360.

Gradius V's particular brand of hard-boiled shooting mayhem is so intense that it can keep you breathlessly entertained for as long as your extra lives don't run out.

An excellent, well-put-together action adventure game that most fans of the genre should be able to enjoy and any Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan will love.

Though very similar to the last two games in the series, the open-ended stealth action gameplay offered by Hitman: Blood Money is still just about as tensely exciting as ever. A few new twists to the formula, an intriguing story, and a memorably diverse, cinematic sequence of missions further make Blood Money worth it.

Fans of either series would do well to check the game out.

The sequel is less open-ended and more structured. Indeed, this time there's a more coherent story, which makes it feel like a different game. However, this comes at the cost of some of the free-form gameplay that you may have loved from the original.

Admittedly, most of the improvements and updates found in Round 3 are merely incremental, but they're still enough to warrant stepping into the ring for another bout.

Throw in a better overall sense of presentation and an insanely deep track editor, and what you've got is a truly great sequel.

The Movies proves to be an accessible and good-spirited tycoon game, and its moviemaking tools offer a surprisingly deep amount of control. But the disconnection between these elements is noticeable.

THUG2 hangs on to the great gameplay of the previous games, makes a few minor tweaks, and wraps it all up in a new Bam Margera-centric package.

The expansion's substantial single-player campaign should last most players 15-20 hours, and while it doesn't have many surprises, it does offer some worthwhile new features that Neverwinter Nights fans should enjoy.

While the game isn't terribly difficult and doesn't create an entirely new mold for itself, it still manages to weave an unsettling tale--full of secret sacrificial rites--that draws you inexorably deeper.

Sonic Rush moves Sonic's 2D adventures over to the DS, and that positive trend continues with a platformer that focuses on raw speed while still managing to do interesting new things, particularly when it comes to the handheld's dual-screen format.

Once you get a handle on the core mechanics, you'll find in Acid a rewarding game of strategic stealth combat coupled with a quirky, intriguing storyline and some neat points of nostalgia for the longtime Metal Gear fan.

Racing fans looking for a new and unique challenge that can be as rewarding as it is deep should give MotoGP3 a try, and players looking for the definitive motorcycling experience for the PlayStation 2 shouldn't bother looking any further.

It won't take you long to blow through King Kong, but its sometimes thrilling, often tense, and always entertaining adventure is absolutely worth checking out.

Though very similar to the last two games in the series, the open-ended stealth action gameplay offered by Hitman: Blood Money is still just about as tensely exciting as ever. A few new twists to the formula, an intriguing story, and a memorably diverse, cinematic sequence of missions further make Blood Money worth it.

Midway has done a great job at combining a fun style with a solid underlying gameplay design to create a unique basketball game experience.

A skewed sense of humor, combined with its frenzied gameplay, gives the game a unique flavor and makes it one of the best side-scrolling shooters out there.

Its additions are extremely enjoyable to play around with and, in some cases, really change the gameplay of the original in new and intriguing ways.

Younger or more casual players may find the game way too hard and may be better off with something less difficult. However, fans of the series or experienced gamers should not hesitate to pick this one up.

It won't take you long to blow through King Kong, but its sometimes thrilling, often tense, and always entertaining adventure is absolutely worth checking out.

SpellForce 2's intriguing mix of gameplay styles makes for a great divergence from the archetypal real-time strategy game.

Isn't much of a simulation, but it's still an incredibly fun game that should appeal to a wider spectrum of basketball fans.

Skeptical Heroes fans, as well as anyone looking for a fun, long-lasting turn-based strategy game, will likely be pleasantly surprised by this one.

Improves upon the previous release in every conceivable way.

The gameplay has been sharpened to create an experience that expertly balances technicality and quick, accessible fun. Add to that a first-rate presentation and some solid solo and multiplayer offerings, and you've got a package that any tennis fan would be foolish to pass up.

Eden Studios has added another impressive rally game to that mix, one that boasts exciting action, a strong career mode, and attractive graphics.

Rather than making a dull, no-frills copy of a popular game, Chronic Logic has taken a well-worn genre--the 2D side-scrolling platformer--and used it as the launching pad for some exuberant and largely successful experimentation.

An excellent blend of the two styles of play and has enough options, on either side, to appeal to hockey fans of any sensibility. Above all else, the game is just a lot of fun.

It simply tightens up the whole package, adding a boon of new content, new abilities, new minigames, and lots and lots of those loveable monkeys. It's no giant step forward for monkeykind, but it's pretty much exactly what you would want from an Ape Escape game.

A refreshingly simple, addictive experience that combines appealing graphics and frantic gameplay.

More than a decade's worth of games from Konami's classic space shoot-'em-up series is contained in this great collection, which offers plenty of intense action, not just nostalgia.

Completely different from Double Agent for the Xbox 360, this version features its own exciting stealth-action campaign, plus a solid new multiplayer mode and some great cooperative missions.

The online works really well and it's a great version of a classic arcade fighting game.

Don't be fooled by the dated graphics. Dominions 3 is a complex, deep, and incredibly rich strategy game that will reward those willing to invest in it with an almost unlimited variety of play.

The good news is that these fighting games--true to their classic roots--have aged gracefully. And, finally, you can play them online.

Easily as good as "Raystorm" or "G-Darius" and tough competition for "Einhander", Thunder Force V is a shooting fan's dream

A great game that won't disappoint Mega Man fans with its engaging quest and fun combat. The game manages to offer an alternative experience to the traditional Battle Network games.

An online RPG that manages to break the mold, if just barely--but, actually, that's no mean feat.

Strikes a great balance between its fantasy and Egyptian-history-based elements to create a world that is rich with character, color, and originality, and its unique method of puzzle-solving makes it an easy recommendation to any fan of the genre.

The new touch-screen controls, level creator, and colorful presentation make March of the Minis an even better puzzle game than its predecessor.

Those who fondly remember the original Final Fantasy Tactics won't find a story that's as engrossing or as complex here, but this is still a deep and involving RPG that offers dozens of hours' worth of entertaining tactical battles.

From the New World keeps the series' bizarre flavor alive and well, matching it with a great battle system and a myriad of side quests to explore.

The only real problem with Loopy Landscapes is that it doesn't add two much-needed elements to RollerCoaster Tycoon: a free-for-all mode in which you're not constrained by scenario objectives, and a means of controlling the game speed.

Though it doesn't take full advantage of the PlayStation 3 hardware, MLB 07: The Show is a great game, and the new road to the show mode is fantastic.

Strikes a great balance between its fantasy and Egyptian-history-based elements to create a world that is rich with character, color, and originality, and its unique method of puzzle-solving makes it an easy recommendation to any fan of the genre.

The Stetchkov Syndicate's additional weapons, aggressive suspects, and new multiplayer mode breathe new life into an already great tactical shooter.

The (thankfully) isolated cinematic sequences showing the interactions of the S.T.A.R.S. team members... are filled to the vomit-line with some of the most hokey, badly-translated, drama-killing, god-awful voice acting ever burned onto a disc. Oh well.

Unmistakably similar to the previous two games in the innovative Guild Wars series, Nightfall features an impressive new Egyptian-themed continent to explore through plenty of solo and cooperative questing.

(The designers have) managed to balance strict tennis rules with forgiving arcade-style gameplay and have created a wonderfully solid release.

Dalmatian and Friends is still a charming, endearing game, though it's also essentially the same game that was released in previous versions.

Digital Devil Saga's great demon combat and tenebrous world full of myth and mystery make it worthy of the Shin Megami Tensei name. If you don't mind cliff-hangers and lots of turn-based combat, definitely consider giving this role-playing game a try.

Call of Duty 3 isn't just another first-person shooter that takes place during World War II. It's a fantastic game with great online play and top-notch sound.

Soul Calibur III is one of the best fighting games around. But it earns this distinction largely by playing it safe while most of the competition simply dropped off.

Star Trek Legacy for the Xbox 360 captures the grandeur and feel of the epic starship battles in the famous television series.

Strikes a great balance between its fantasy and Egyptian-history-based elements to create a world that is rich with character, color, and originality, and its unique method of puzzle-solving makes it an easy recommendation to any fan of the genre.

Admittedly, most of the improvements and updates found in Round 3 are merely incremental, but they're still enough to warrant stepping into the ring for another bout.

The world courses are absolutely packed with detail, and they feature some really spectacular special effects.

This Xbox installment would have benefited from a slightly easier set of songs to make it less difficult for new players to pick up, but, beyond this caveat, it's the most feature-rich version of Dance Dance Revolution ever.

An excellent strategy game that fans of the original Dynasty Tactics will enjoy for the same reasons they enjoyed the first one and that gives new players a chance to experience this highly original, entertaining, and complex style of gameplay.

Heroes doesn't take any chances with the Kingdom Under Fire formula, but it adds just enough to move the series forward--if only incrementally.

While casual gamers will feel like they've been plunged into a maelstrom of names and dates, anyone with a love of history will appreciate the rigorous attention to detail and epic scope.

Metal Gear Acid 2 manages to deliver the same unique, strategic gameplay with the trademark style and oddball humor that Metal Gear Solid is known for, making it another great addition to your PSP library.

It's fun and more manageable than the original, thanks to the new campaign, and is ultimately a worthwhile addition to the original game.

Featuring great graphics, a more-than-solid gameplay engine, and finally a story mode worth playing through, Day of Reckoning is truly the first great WWE game on the GameCube.

Ratchet & Clank's signature gameplay travels to the PSP almost completely intact in Size Matters, which packs in a good-size single-player adventure.

Though seemingly identical to 2005's frenetic heavy metal action adventure, this budget-priced Special Edition adds some notable new features, and for better or worse, it defangs the original's notorious difficulty.

A finely crafted, meticulous, and often beautiful re-creation of some very colorful trains and railways, with depth to satisfy a hard-core player and simplicity that lets you just enjoy the ride.

Great, largely because it successfully captures the spirit of both Square and Disney in a single game.

Features a surprisingly impressive presentation, complete with realistic physics and some of the most destructible environments ever seen in a game, which lead to some very exciting unscripted moments.

What sets this game apart from the pack is its depth: the number and variety of its enemies, weapons, and levels are unmatched.

FIFA 07 plays a fast-paced, realistic game of soccer and is fun for solo and social players alike.

Raven improves upon the great work it did with the X-Men Legends games, creating a lengthy adventure that touches nearly every last corner of the Marvel Universe.

An improved aiming system, awesome create-a-character options, and top-notch gameplay help the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series get off to a great start on the PlayStation 3.

Barbarian Invasion adds a lot of new features and improvements to Rome: Total War, and the result is a much more challenging and satisfying strategy game.

NCAA Football 07 for the Xbox 360 excels not just with its presentation and spectacle but also with its compelling and hard-hitting gameplay. Despite its relative dearth of features, it's a fine start for the next generation of the series.

There are only a few improvements to help distinguish it from NHL 2002, but these changes further increase the realism of what is considered the best hockey simulation on the market.

Summit Strike has the same level of quality as any full-priced third-person shooter and is every bit as enjoyable as its predecessor, with a varied campaign, wide-open levels, and a wealth of multiplayer options and modes.

A fairly uninteresting single-player game, but its multiplayer mode is a ton of fun.

Wings of Power may just seem like a plane add-on for Flight Simulator 2004, but it's definitely commercial-quality software: It lets you experience the closest thing to actually <I>flying</I> a colorful collection of World War II-era aircraft.

Featuring many fun, faithfully adapted games from the '80s and '90s, the Sega Genesis Collection offers a fantastic value and a big slice of gaming history.

A bit more work on the broad-scale strategy portions and the interface could have made Dynasty Tactics virtually above reproach.

Despite a few rough edges, Konami has nailed it when it comes to gameplay and fun.

What SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 improves isn't necessarily what the series actually needed to improve, but on its own merits, it's still a great wrestling game.

Aside from some small rough spots, Syberia is a superb adventure with an engrossing story, a truly imaginative gameworld, and stunning visuals.

While on the outside it may seem like a standard multiplayer party game, the new twists brought on by some completely original gameplay elements make this game an absolute blast to play.

Despite its flaws, Day of Defeat offers unusually intense gameplay with excellent pacing, good weapons, and a really fine combination of all-out action and teamwork.