Alien Invasion adds what seems like a lot of intriguing new content, but in practice, it's mostly for advanced players.

While the game is marred by some graphical and gameplay issues, it still crafts an intriguing and engaging set of "episodes" that will please fans--as well as survival horror aficionados--with the taste of some good, old-fashioned alien conspiracy.

These additions are sound--they extend and expand on the original game's context in meaningful ways--though they might have given a stronger impression if Black Knight weren't a full year older than, and just as expensive as, its predecessor.

As good as the game looks, there are some noticeable deficiencies in the gameplay, including some of the most blatant rubber-band AI to ever be found in a racing game.

No one said being the hero was going to be easy. Overlooking its problems and getting past that learning curve certainly won't be, but if you manage to, you'll find that Dead to Rights is an intense and challenging game.

Die-hard Contra fans hoping for a pure Contra remake may find themselves a little disappointed that, for all its similarity to its classic predecessors, Contra: Shattered Soldier takes a few too many liberties.

A game that, while designed with kids in mind, has such a surplus of charm that even nostalgia-minded adults will be able to join in on the fun.

Longtime fans will appreciate that it's easier to both outfit Zero with different weapons and manage his various special abilities in this game than it was in the previous one, but aside from some primarily cosmetic changes, this game plays just like every other Mega Man game does.

Scrapland is still pretty good overall, but there's definitely a level of potential here that just doesn't ever quite get realized.

Project Eden's superior blend of squad-based gameplay, ingenious puzzles, clever level design, and multiplayer modes creates an action-adventure game that challenges your brain more than your trigger finger.

If you don't expect the world when it comes to simulation options or graphical detail, it sure is a fine game of racing.

Even though Speed Kings doesn't stray very far from the "Burnout 2" formula, it's a solid racer that does a great job of conveying an insanely fast sense of speed and requires you to think and react in an instant.

UEFA Champions League's unique method of building teams by collecting player cards makes up for the fact that it's EA's fourth soccer game for the 360 in just over a year.

If you don't notice or mind a light smattering of propaganda, you'll find that Rise of a Soldier is more than a competent shooter, offering a unique feel and spin on first-person shooters.

The Godfather: Blackhand Edition works in a smattering of new content and a brand-new control scheme with good results.

If you can get past its technical issues, Gothic 3 offers a substantial, open-ended role-playing experience.

Though The Suffering tends to rely more on startling you with visual effects and sudden attacks than on actually trying to scare you, it's still a pretty refreshing take on horror-themed games.

It's hardly the next big thing in driving games, but it still manages to deliver the most authentic Pixar film experience to the video game medium of any previous attempt, and it's certainly one of the better kid-oriented games to come out this year.

Although it offers newcomers two brand-new species to play as, Jump to Lightspeed (like so much of the content added to the game in recent updates) has been designed to reward dedicated, hardcore players rather than appeal to new ones, and that's exactly what it does.

It's got all the new rule changes, as well as an almost entirely up-to-date roster, but considering how similar the game is overall to 2005's version, you have to ask yourself, "Is that really enough?"

Offers about seven hours of solid gameplay--give or take an hour--though it suffers from the same problem as Uru: There's no replay value for your $20 once you've completed the game, aside from revisiting your favorite ages and soaking up the scenery again.

Boasts more than enough fast-paced gameplay and depth to justify its asking price.

Madden NFL 07 cleans up some of the issues of its PSP predecessor, but then it tosses in a small pile of new problems to contend with.

An excellent puzzle game that features humorous Rube Goldberg-style machines, and it is sure to please amateur inventors and puzzle game fans alike.

Though it's not as versatile or accessible as your land-based action sports games, Kelly Slater does the subject matter right by including responsive control, consistently good visuals, and a distinct sense of style.

Sonic and the Secret Rings delivers an excellent sense of speed and plenty of depth, and what's just as impressive is that it makes Sonic fun again.

It doesn't really matter if you've played other games like it before, because Suikoden Tactics is easy to get into and challenging enough to be enjoyable to veterans and newcomers alike.

PS2 owners who haven't played any other version of MDK2 should be pleased with the game, and Dreamcast owners who couldn't muster the dedication to complete the game might want to see what they missed on the PS2.

The strategy, combat, and even history lessons are excellent.

An evolutionary step above what Stormfront did with "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," and players who appreciate that brand of brute-force, hack-and-slash gameplay should find in it a great-looking and enjoyable, if somewhat familiar, experience.

The big, dramatic-looking naval battles pack in a lot of variety, and the open-ended structure of the campaign rewards your curiosity.

Given that "Hitman 2" was such a huge improvement on the original, it's inherently somewhat disappointing that the new Hitman: Contracts is really just a rehash. It's more of the same, replete with everything that was good and everything that wasn't so good about the 2002 game.

The length keeps the game from achieving greatness, but with its great cast of characters, fun story, and toe-tapping soundtrack, Incredible Crisis still provides an incredibly satisfying, albeit incredibly short, video game experience.

Overall, the game feels a little rushed with its easy-way-out track design.

With its charm and "something for everybody" mentality, TimeSplitters is sure to offer GameCube owners a good number of things to like, though it feels practically irrelevant when compared to the other versions of the game.

The game's wide-open levels actually encourage players to explore, giving the series a fresh feel compared to past games and other World War II shooters. Unfortunately, a very brief campaign and no online multiplayer means the fun doesn't last long.

Cloning Clyde delivers 35 levels of interesting, puzzle-based side-scrolling at a nice price.

Sure, it's got all the new rule changes, as well as an almost entirely up-to-date roster, but considering how similar the game is overall to 2005's version, you have to ask yourself, "Is that really enough?"

Even though Speed Kings doesn't stray very far from the "Burnout 2" formula, it's a solid racer that does a great job of conveying an insanely fast sense of speed and requires you to think and react in an instant.

Despite serious performance issues, Odin Sphere successfully brings together gorgeous, stylized visuals and satisfying gameplay in a lengthy and engaging adventure.

Instant fun for just about anyone that likes trivia.

Does a masterful job of allowing players to collect and put together an army of unique and powerful robots, but it falls short at providing a cohesive or memorable role-playing experience.

The fast-paced, quickly changing gameplay is refreshingly unordinary.

No other product delivers the ease of use and instructional value of Chessmaster 9000.

Just make sure you bring along your dual analog gamepad to ensure that all your terror is generated from the cursed setting--and not from the controls.

The gameplay can get rather tiresome after a while, but Samurai Champloo's goofy sense of humor and stylish touches make it more than just your average button-masher.

Thanks to some crucial new control mechanics, the introduction of star impact players that can blow a match wide open, real clubs and players, and a faithful re-creation of the high-impact sport of rugby, Rugby 06 improves on last year's effort and remains an engaging and fun game.

While it's easily the weakest version of the three versions of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, it can still be worth playing for GameCube owners feeling the lack of decent fantasy role-playing games for their only system.

Even though the wingman mechanics and canyon races don't quite pan out, it's still a stylish and enjoyable street racer.

If it can conquer its technical problems, Anarchy Online will be the very best online role-playing game around.

Reminiscent of the influential puzzle gaming sensation Bejeweled, Hexic HD is a solid, attractive puzzle game that comes freely preloaded onto the Xbox 360's hard drive.

While still a worthwhile shooter, Lockdown's overall feel may leave longtime fans wondering if the developers have finally strayed too far from their roots.

Rise of Legends is a bit flat in comparison to Rise of Nations, but quirky races and units provide a lot of off-the-wall appeal.

Sure, it's got all the new rule changes, as well as an almost entirely up-to-date roster, but considering how similar the game is overall to 2005's version, you have to ask yourself, "Is that really enough?"

A lot of what made Command & Conquer great comes through in this package, but a few rough edges make it all seem a little sloppy.

The campaign adventure is a colorful and exuberant affair. There's a lot to explore, and the 2D racing and the monster-rearing elements quickly become the most addictive aspects of the game.

FIFA Street 2 is a significant improvement over its predecessor and is fun for solo players and small groups of friends alike.

Syndicate's cooperative play is undeniably thrilling. Too bad the single-player campaign doesn't reach the same heights.

TiQal builds on rich puzzle traditions to create an exotic game full of ambiance and excitement.

Adol the Red has some trouble finding his footing, but his sword remains true in this remake of an Ys classic.

The game may be a little too self-consciously old-school for some, but the action is so fast, furious, and blithely bloody that it's hard to resist getting swept up in the carnage.

Zero-gravity combat and some interesting twists make Shattered Horizon a unique, if somewhat limited, multiplayer shooter.

A game of thrills and missed opportunities. And so it's important to know what you want from this shooter before you commit. Come to it for the thrills of joining a team and mowing down gunners like so many weeds in a Colorado research facility. Come to it for a chilly vision of the future, where the minds of meddlers can be altered with a simple computer program. There are numerous games better at providing single-player satisfaction, however, and this is where Syndicate falters.

Roogoo's visuals are cute and the concept is simple, but this fast-paced game of quick reflexes is surprisingly fun and challenging.

Sharp controls and smooth physics create a great blend of challenge and fun in this retro-styled arcade game.

There's little in Bleed that hasn't been seen before. But even though it hasn't reinvented how we kill baddies in two dimensions, it's still a fun and satisfying adventure. For just $5, you get a few hours of fast-paced combat, and there's punishing side missions tucked away for those who crave a challenge. Think you can get through the entire game without dying? Tight mechanics make it possible, but it takes dedication to earn that triumph. Bleed is an energetic tale of heroic conquest.

It combines the general concepts behind tabletop pinball with the characters and worlds from the Mario franchise to create a strange sort of adventure game that's fairly fun but a little on the short side.

It's a surprisingly polished game that covers some unique ground in a thoroughly enjoyable way.

Fast-paced shooting action and enjoyable multiplayer help the Space Invaders series celebrate its 30th anniversary in style.

Fluid combat and great art lift this Force-powered sequel above its flaws.

Worth picking up just for the sheer number of games it comes with, but the additional historical extras make it a must-have for anyone with an interest in classic video games.

If you do enjoy straightforward, no-nonsense action, Rise of Sin Tzu delivers it in an appealing package and is one of the best 3D beat-'em-up action games you'll find.

3D Dot Game Heroes is a pleasant retreat for anyone who pines for the good old days, but even those without nostalgic links to the past will find an enjoyable experience.

At its core, EndWar is a bit too simple, but it does offer a unique voice command system and terrific production values.

While this might leave Street Fighter fans scratching their heads, any package with Forgotten Worlds, Commando, Gun.Smoke, and Final Fight in it is easily worth the price of admission.

Those that have been purely passive participants in the program for nearly a decade, though (by just watching the show), probably won't mind that one bit.

Sideway: New York is packed with lavish details that make it as fun to look at as it is to play.

Midway's arcade football franchise breaks all the rules, plus your arms, legs, skull, scrotum, and spleen. If that sounds like fun, it's because it is.

The rewarding sense of experimentation and problem-solving that dominates this quest makes putting up with its foibles worthwhile, and the twisting, puzzling halls of Quadwrangle Manor are substantial enough to justify the $14.99 price of admission.

The game still has a few rough spots on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball that would make any fan of the sport throw his or her controller in frustration.

Apart from actually putting together a completely decent gameplay engine, Shaolin Monks is so ridiculously chock-full of hidden goodies and subtle wink-and-nod-style in-jokes that anybody who professes to have a degree in MK will be hard-pressed not to come away entertained.

The simple purity of hack-and-slash gameplay is Ys Seven's most realized and compelling feature.

Although the game borrows liberally from its contemporaries, Devil Kings manages to have fun with the formula by removing any sense of pretension or seriousness, leaving a game that's a lot of fun to play.

This classic fighter has aged well, but the XBLA version lacks both online play and features found in the Dreamcast game.

The core mechanics are solid, and the addition of true online play is a compelling selling point.

This eclectic sports collection is fun with friends and does a good job of showing what the PlayStation Move hardware is capable of.

El Diablo's Domain brings three new costumes and a series of challenges to Guacamelee that will push even expert players to their limits.

The lively competitive tapping of Rock Band Blitz puts an exciting spin on the entire, vast library of Rock Band songs.

Despite the camera problems and some of the other issues, most players will probably enjoy playing what ultimately turns out to be a graphically superior version of the PlayStation and Dreamcast Spider-Man games, which faithfully captured the superhero's moves and antics to begin with.

The unique blend of action and strategy in Glory Days 2 will make you wish the campaign lasted a little longer.

From side quests to sound design, Silent Hill: Downpour isn't afraid of change. The restult is a captivating game more expansive than the series has ever seen.

And while the gameplay doesn't really do anything especially remarkable, and the adventure is unfortunately quite short, Destroy All Humans! shows such enthusiasm for its thematic inspiration that you can't help but at least appreciate what it tries to do.

The addition of the Online Dynasty mode will please many, but the lack of significant improvements to other key modes of NCAA Football 09 will disappoint many others.

This compulsively fun sequel is a delight, though it's a familiar one.

If PAA had been able to construct a great adventure game around the fantastic humor, this would be a must-buy for everyone. But in its current form, it will satisfy only the specific niche of people who find PA funny and no one else.

This may be a touch disappointing to hardcore fans of "Crash Team Racing", but anyone looking for a solid kart racer should be quite pleased.

A more well-rounded game than either of its predecessors, and though it's unlikely to convert those who weren't impressed with past installments, fans of the first two games should find plenty to like here.

Midnight Club is fast, beautiful, and way too hard.