Luigi's first solo excursion has flashes of brilliance and is fun while it lasts, but the short amount of time it takes to complete it makes it a hard recommendation.

College Hoops 2K7 is a very good college basketball game, but its value is somewhat lessened by the fact that it follows "College Hoops 2K6" by just eight months.

Delivers a satisfying team-based shooter experience that many hardcore Star Wars fans will probably enjoy greatly.

The PS2 version's new additions and enhancements, along with its faithful reproduction of The Sims' gameplay, make for a game that is as solid as The Sims has ever been.

You couldn't ask for an easier way to find opponents, trade pieces, and compete in tourneys than with this online-only game from the creators of the acclaimed online collectible card game, Chron X.

This new take on an old favorite adds new, exciting elements to the formula without getting rid of what made Pac-Man so good in the first place.

You can create a route, enjoy riding around on it, and with the new interactive industries and AI drivers, you can really make the train do something.

MX Superfly may get bogged down from time to time by the overabundance of minigames, but behind that small obstacle is a motocross game with great gameplay and solid audiovisual presentation.

NCAA 2K3 still doesn't quite reach the level of quality found in EA Sports' "NCAA Football 2003," which offers more in-depth features and is an overall better representation of the college football experience.

It does pretty much everything a yearly sports update needs to do to be a success: It improves on features that previously were lacking, and it brings some new additions into the mix as well.

Its technical issues are going to get in the way of some players' enjoyment of an otherwise solid and relatively original first-person shooter, and they'll likely convince other players to avoid the game altogether. Vietcong is still a very good game, however.

Does its job quite well--it's a graphically remarkable yet otherwise conventional 2D fighting game that plays well, sounds good, and offers a memorable lineup of cool characters with countless crazy moves.

Orion Pirates has an impressive amount of content for a stand-alone expansion, so it's great for new players; but ardent fans of "Starfleet Command Volume II" will merely find more of the same.

Looks absolutely stunning. It's the best-looking home fighting game ever released...Once you get past its graphics--and you will--you'll find that DOA3 doesn't offer much of anything that hasn't been done in other 3D fighting games.

A cleaned-up and slightly larger version of MX 2002. If you missed out on MX 2002, Superfly is a perfect place to start.

Newcomers, on the other hand, will discover a somewhat quirky but enjoyable real-time strategy game that focuses on formations and tactics rather than base-building and tank rushes.

A well-crafted, entirely satisfactory arcade-style flight combat game--much like its predecessor. In fact, Lethal Skies II is so much like its predecessor, in so many significant ways, it's largely the same game.

Through its use of real time and brilliant writing, the game ups the ante for storytelling in gaming. And if it weren't for a few gameplay issues, The Last Express could very well be among the best adventure games ever.

The game looks and moves great, the controls are responsive, and there's a nice variety of gameplay modes available. Still, considering the seven-year gap since "Mario Kart 64" was released, it's hard not to be a little disappointed with the limited scope of the game.

While the game is certainly impressive on a technical level, some elements of its graphical presentation seem somewhat primitive when viewed against current standards.

What Rayman 3 does is re-create much of the same lighthearted whimsy that made Rayman 2 so incredibly enjoyable, while differentiating the action enough for the game to stand up on its own.

Ultimate Block Party is easy to pick up and play, and once you do, the quick, chaotic puzzle battles will have you hooked.

While some design choices mire aspects of this futuristic game in the dungeon-slogging role-playing-game past, the end result is an enjoyable experience, even if the game does not boldly go where no game has gone before.

Delivers a satisfying team-based shooter experience that many hardcore Star Wars fans will probably enjoy greatly. Ironically, though the PC version of the game is technically the best, it also faces the stiffest direct competition, because to many PC shooter fans the game may come off as old hat.

It gets rid of the overblown, big-city atmosphere of the recent console release and puts the focus on getting into races--the best part of the series--very quickly.

The game packs enough pure action to make it appealing to those who like first-person shooters in general, and it's got plenty of Star Trek science fiction in it for those more interested in the source material.

A very playable vehicular combat game, and its water gimmick, along with several other elements, works to differentiate it somewhat from the rest.

The major aspect that sets Donkey Kong Country apart from similar games is the amount of variety present in each level.

Despite its considerable depth, Shadow Hearts is easy to get into and yet maintains a satisfying level of challenge.

We experimented with a full six-player field, and we found the frame rate smooth and the fender-to-fender action and wide-open spaces both thrilling and intriguing.

"GameDay 2001," aside from its obvious roster updates and a few minor additions, is totally identical to last year's title, which was a really good game.

The game seems to lack an overall level of polish, as you'll see some questionable AI and some occasional bouts of slowdown in the PS2 version of the game. Still, the gameplay itself is rock-solid.

Despite some flaws with its strategic game, Shattered Union is a fun, turn-based wargame that anyone can pick up and enjoy.

There's no denying that when you find a good group and you're fighting, chatting, and gaining levels, Shadowbane is at least as good as "EverQuest" and Dark Age of Camelot.

It's a great game to own, especially given its low retail price, but this version is not an essential purchase.

Compares favorably to the other baseball games that are currently on the market, especially if online play or a franchise mode are the features that matter most to you.

Actually playing a game that has a mix of simulation physics and overriding arcade control is really anticlimactic since it doesn't do quite as good of a job at either style of play. Be that as it may, NFL Fever 2002 is still a very solid game.

Very good. With just a bit more variety to its tracks and a slightly better career mode, it definitely could have been much better, but it has great graphics, solid sound, and the sort of easy learning curve that makes it a driving game that anyone can excel at.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, The Sims is otherwise extremely faithful to the gameplay of the original game, shortcomings and all, and it's more or less identical to the PS2 game.

Another very good entry in a solid series of motocross games. It plays well, and it has great control and a lot of tracks and objectives.

Battlestations: Midway strikes just the right balance between action and strategy to create a game that's as unique as it is enjoyable.

It has a lot of flash, but it backs it up with a good amount of substance.

Goes beyond the standard update and delivers some new styles of gameplay that freshen up the experience without sacrificing the things that made the games popular in the first place.

A thick, unsettling atmosphere fills this ambitious first-person action adventure, which makes up for some frustrating moments and dated graphics with plenty of chills, variety, and originality.

While this hybrid concept mostly works well, the game suffers from a lack of polish and from stripped-down combat balance.

While this sequel doesn't quite capture the ineffable magic of the original game, it's still a strong follow-up that easily surpasses many recent adventures.

A solid puzzler with an almost impeccable presentation.

Ultimately, the gameplay has a few minor flaws, and the available modes aren't quite as deep as those found in other college football games that are available on the market.

Eating the brains of the living to form a massive army of the undead is extremely satisfying, often hilarious, and, unfortunately, almost painfully brief.

It goes into slightly more realistic territory without sacrificing the fun, easy-to-learn gameplay that most of Midway's sports games possess.

NHL 2K7 for the PlayStation 2 lacks much of the forward progress of its Xbox 360 counterpart and instead provides an enjoyable hockey game that you've pretty much played before.

Donkey Kong Country 3 isn't a huge leap over "DKC2," but it's still a first-rate platformer with plenty to see and do.

A cute, quirky little strategy game that has some excellent multiplayer capacity. However, the old-timers out there may find that though the transition to 3D is novel, it doesn't really have much impact on the overall experience.

If you are interested in an Eye Toy but don't yet have one, you should skip buying Play and proceed directly to Play 2, as it's almost universally better than the first game. The mini-games are longer and more detailed, and the multiplayer is smoother and generally more fun.

The game does have some noticeable problems, though C&C fans may find themselves having too much fun to care.

Between the game sound and the game's eclectic soundtrack, Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX is totally amazing...The soundtrack rivals "Wipeout XL" for the title of best licensed soundtrack ever.

Even with its flaws, Okage remains a breath of fresh air for a genre in desperate need of the kind of originality and variety that it provides.

When you look at Zoo Keeper strictly as a DS game and ignore the outside world, it's a great puzzle offering that looks nice and offers play that can be really habit-forming.

Ultimately, Shadows of Undrentide isn't the most epic or memorable RPG with BioWare's name on it, but it has plenty of good, new content to satisfy most any Neverwinter Nights fan.

With additions like a frighteningly deep franchise mode and online play, SlugFest's already option-laden package gets even deeper this year, though some of these additions are better suited for the game than others.

It's Gradius done good--if you're into that sort of thing.

Although giving the game a human face would make playing it a much more personable--even a more realistic--experience, Solecismic is dead-on with all the core elements of play. There's no better simulation of big-league football.

With a sharp game list and fantastic multiplayer support, Capcom Classics Collection Remixed is, all around, a very good compilation.

New space combat maps and playable Jedi represent some incremental improvements, but for the most part, Battlefront II treads familiar ground, which is great for Star Wars fanatics and fans of team-based online shooters.

While hockey purists will obviously be turned off by the rough-and-tumble nature of NHL Hitz, it's a great game of hockey that anyone can pick up and play.

Though by no means difficult or historically accurate, Blitzkrieg 2 is still a fun, fast-paced World War II strategy game that lets you steamroll opponents into the ground.

Offering several new features, as well as improvements to the game's graphics, sound, and overall polish, NBA Live 2004 is a good game for Live fans and general basketball fans alike.

The game's twisted sense of humor and tendency toward overindulgence make it that much more enjoyable. If you're looking for a fun, pick-up-and-play shooter, and don't mind a lot of senseless brutality, Urban Chaos is the game for you.

What's so remarkable about B-17 is that it manages to be even more immersive for the player than even the most sophisticated dynamic-campaign-driven single-seater flight simulation.

Wii Sports makes for an ideal pack-in with Nintendo's new console, providing some fun, simple gameplay that's accessible to almost anyone.

2006 FIFA World Cup does a good job of re-creating the carnival atmosphere that surrounds the competition, but it suffers from frequent and obnoxious slowdown.

The long-awaited PC version of Jade Empire retains the great story and setting of the Xbox original, but the streamlined combat and core design haven't aged quite as gracefully.

With such a popular franchise, you won't have much trouble finding a [multiplayer] game to join, and even practicing against the AI while you hone your skills is enjoyable.

Some elements of NBA Street's sense of style was lost in the translation between basketball and football, and the lack of a consistently enjoyable single-player mode is a problem for sure, but the game's excellent multiplayer component and its great level of graphical polish ultimately make NFL Street a game well worth playing for any fan of the arcade football genre.

It doesn't do anything new or different, but it has a great blend of action and adventure that will always keep you moving and interested. The problem is that it moves a bit too fast, and it's all over way too soon.

It will probably appeal more to the less hard-core racing fan and to those who can ignore the game's slim damage model.

For PSP puzzle fans on the hunt for another game to complement their current Lumines addiction, Mercury is a solid choice.

Partly due to its low level of difficulty, Lunar Legend won't take you too long to finish--it's about 15 hours long.

The PSP version of Test Drive Unlimited crams in just about every feature found in the PS2 version of the game, including the open-ended online world, and it does so without mucking up the experience.

An endearing and well thought-out game. It's neither extremely innovative, nor technically impressive--rather, it's an especially well-executed example of a fairly common sort of game.

Ghost Rider for the GBA is a visually intense, fun beat-'em-up that totally gets what the character is all about.

A very good adventure game with impressive production values, but if it had actually shipped complete with the promised multiplayer, it perhaps could have been much more.

A handful of quirks keep it from being great, but MLB 2K7 is an improvement over "MLB 2K6" in nearly every way, and it's a very solid baseball game.

Some aspects of the game will really impress you; others will make you want to throw your monitor out the window.

A very good representation of the WWII RTS formula by pros who really know their way around the Battle of the Bulge. If any game is capable of convincing genre veterans of shivering their way through the Battle of the Bulge one more time, it's this one.

The characters aren't nearly as popular as those in Nintendo's game, but the deeper gameplay makes up for that to an extent.

Etrian Odyssey is a turn-based role-playing game like any other, but it sports one heck of a mean streak to elevate it above the crowd.

Returning fans may find themselves wishing that the developer had instead stuck to the things it clearly knows best, but on the whole, Rebel Strike is a very good game that's worthy of the Rogue Squadron name.

While Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 for Xbox 360 is missing many of the features that round out the game on current-gen platforms and the PC, what remains is a challenging, enjoyable game of golf that, in some ways, exceeds the more fleshed-out versions.

So while EverQuest II isn't the massive step for the genre that its predecessor was, it can still be a fun and addictive online role-playing experience that has a lot to offer new and experienced players alike.

May be slightly short, but it makes up for it by being relentlessly ingenious.

It manages to bring this classic drive-and-shoot arcade game into the next-generation of polygonal gaming without losing the core appeal of the original.

Rocket Slime is a simple adventure packed with personality, puns, and an oddly endearing hero.

NBA 2K7 is a very good game, but it's largely unchanged from "NBA 2K6."

Trauma Center succeeds because it strikes such a good balance between its medical theme and its puzzler roots.

A good return to the roots of the series. It doesn't do anything new or different, but it has a great blend of action and adventure that will always keep you moving and interested.

There's probably no single feature of Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX that could be considered exceptional, but that isn't a prerequisite for a game to be fun or addicting--and the PC version of Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX is both.

While the expansion doesn't drastically change the core elements, its additions to the gameplay make Cossacks much more enjoyable by opening up more strategic options.