7 Wonders is a competent clone of a competent Bejeweled clone that does little to set itself apart.

Skate's analog trick system is revolutionary for the genre, but the game surrounding those mechanics isn't quite as good.

PixelJunk Racers' virtual slot cars are fun in groups of people, but without online multiplayer, you'll get tired quickly if you're playing alone.

High Stakes is a competent, no-frills poker game that won't dazzle you with its presentation, but does offer up solid gameplay.

Heavenly Sword feels like a summer action flick. It's full of nonstop action, and it looks terrific. Unfortunately, like a great summer movie, it's over far too quickly.

EA's latest NHL title creates one of the most legitimately exciting interpretations of the sport you've ever played.

Anacapri has more in common with the ancient gameplay of early '90s adventures than anything modern, but even as a pseudo-nostalgia piece, it's no fun at all.

The quintessential Sonic experience is made even better thanks to the inclusion of achievements and a strong, competitive multiplayer component.

As a graphical showpiece, DiRT is an unbridled success. It also happens to be an entirely enjoyable rally racer.

Floaty physics and an underwhelming sense of speed add up to a decent, but not great, sci-fi racing game.

A good grasp of tactics along with smart, challenging missions outshine Galactic Assault's impenetrable storyline and elementary design.

Who knew that samurai swordfighting could ever be so dull and annoying?

If you're looking for a 2D fighting game that's totally nuts, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core will give you what you want.

EA's latest NHL title creates one of the most legitimately exciting interpretations of the sport you've ever played.

NHL 08 offers up a few control tweaks and minimal updates to the dynasty mode, but that's about it.

NHL 08 offers up a few control tweaks and minimal updates to the dynasty mode, but that's about it.

Jam Sessions is neat if you want to turn your DS into an acoustic guitar, but that's about all it does.

By splitting the difference between action and puzzle with its unconventional gameplay, Jungle Climber makes for a compelling experience.

Though it's a fairly rote platformer with some coloring-book underpinnings, Drawn to Life's drawing mechanic is undeniably unique.

The tedium of the G.U. trilogy comes to a welcome end.

NHL 2K8 is a generally fun hockey game, though its new control scheme is a step backward for the series.

NHL 2K8 is a generally fun hockey game, though its new control scheme is a step backward for the series.

The PlayStation 2 version of NHL 2K8 does little to impress.

It's a short ride, but an amusing one while it lasts.

Without the ability to compete against human opponents, this version of Cyberball 2072 is a completely useless waste.

If you already know what Fatal Fury Special is and want to play more, come on in--but anyone else probably won't understand what makes this game worth playing.

Twitchy controls and poor presentation eclipse what little fun there is to be had with this middling billiards game.

If you're tired of the genre, Airborne won't do anything to change your mind, but if you're looking to fight for the Allied cause yet again, it's a worthy tour of duty.

If you're tired of the genre, Airborne won't do anything to change your mind, but if you're looking to fight for the Allied cause yet again, it's a worthy tour of duty.

The Naruto license does little to compensate for this forgettable brawler's undemanding combat and tedious story.

Though the additions and adjustments to the standard Worms experience aren't game changing, the playful violence and light strategy still hold up.

Though the additions and adjustments to the standard Worms experience aren't game changing, the playful violence and light strategy still hold up.

Bon Voyage is a worthwhile expansion that makes plenty of neat little additions to The Sims 2.

Great visuals and sound mean absolutely nothing in Lair. Factor 5 should have made a movie--not a game. This is the ultimate example of how gameplay suffers when all the work goes into making everything look pretty. There is nothing fun about it.

Capcom's superdeformed puzzle game benefits greatly from the inclusion of online play.

Capcom's superdeformed puzzle game benefits greatly from the inclusion of online play.

Streets of Rage 2 stands as one of the most well-crafted beat-'em-ups ever, and it still looks and sounds great and plays beautifully.

Dead Head Fred has some great ideas that are obscured by a lot of messed up mechanics.

This game has a stripped-down feel, but the exciting gameplay certainly makes up for those feelings. This is blue versus red across multiple modes and maps, in the land or in the air. And it's excellent fun.

Blue Dragon is an unexceptional RPG that does just enough to escape mediocrity.

The latest entry in Capcom's ambitious role-playing series sets out to hunt monsters, but only manages to shoot itself in the foot.

If the heavy focus on trial and error doesn't rattle you, Stuntman: Ignition can be some explosive fun.

If the heavy focus on trial and error doesn't rattle you, Stuntman: Ignition can be some explosive fun.

Though rough in places, the RPG series' latest entry is one of its weirdest, if not best.

Eye of the North is largely more of the same. In this case, that's a terrific thing.

This great new expansion offers a significant amount of new content for veteran Medieval II players.

The Naruto: Ultimate Ninja games haven't been terribly ambitious up to now, and with little in the way of actual, original content, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes feels even less so.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam takes the worst elements of both franchises, and smashes them together into a dismally vapid action game.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam takes the worst elements of both franchises, and smashes them together into a dismally vapid action game.

Unless fumbling your way through half-baked minigames to win some virtual stuffed animals sounds like fun to you, you're better off leaving this overpriced collection on the shelf.

Thanks to a crash bug and features that don't work well or don't work at all, Tiger Woods 08 on the Xbox 360 is a big disappointment.

Tiger Woods 08 is a good game, but it stumbles a bit this year thanks to some unnecessary changes and some new features that don't work well or don't work at all.

Tiger Woods 08 is good, but it's only slightly better than the last game.

The PlayStation 2 version of Tiger Woods 08 has no new game modes, fewer courses, and fails to improve on last year's game in any significant way.

The game plays well, but there's not enough new in the PSP's fourth Tiger Woods to warrant a purchase.

Don't let the understated presentation fool you: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 is a great portable golf game.

Most of the minigames are lame and the touch-screen controls rarely work like they should.

Despite a variety of shortcomings, MetropolisMania 2 is a fun and oddly addictive city sim that walks the fine line between being eccentric and outright bizarre.

Spy-story noir meets ridiculous adventure-game puzzles in this misguided tale of Nazis and nukes.

It's got exactly what you would expect from the last in an acclaimed trilogy of titles: great boss battles, involved environmental puzzles, and a smooth control scheme that cements exactly how FPS controls should work on the platform...While the lack of multiplayer is disappointing, the single-player campaign won't leave you wanting.

With new online modes and increased options for tuning and customizing your bike, MotoGP 07 certainly plays to the strengths of the series.

GRAW2 offers up a solid, though short, single-player campaign. But the bulk of its gameplay can be found in its impressive multiplayer offering.

The Ghost Recon series makes a solid debut on the PlayStation Portable with this action-filled shooter, but competitive multiplayer is missing.

Epic scale and depth of content make Two Worlds worthwhile.

Epic scale and depth of content make Two Worlds worthwhile.

Street Trace: NYC provides a few moments of multiplayer amusement, but it doesn't have enough going for it to be compelling for long.

Combat Mission says good-bye to WWII, but hello to an inept interface, broken AI, and hideous visuals.

As long as you're satisfied with the core gameplay of Europa Universalis III, this add-on won't disappoint.

Space Giraffe is an extremely weird and well-designed arcade game, but its unique brand of madness isn't for everyone.

Terrible AI and indecipherable dialogue are just two of the many problems afflicting this zombie shooter.

In spite of some technical issues, BioShock creates an amazing world that you'll want to explore and a compelling mystery that slowly comes together as you play.

Its weak link is its unsatisfying no-skill-required combat, which might aim this one just over the head of the average Halo fan. But if you want to get a little fancy, there's a lot of fun to be had with some of the game's more indirect fighting methods. It builds an amazing atmosphere by using terrific graphics and sound to set a creepy mood. But BioShock's real strengths are as a compelling work of interactive fiction, and as a unique ride through a warped world with some great payoff built into its mysterious plot. If that description has you even the least bit interested, you won't be disappointed one bit.

History is turned on its head with a great story and compelling gameplay that keeps the tempo moving.

The solid roots of a charming series are buried under an avalanche of bugs and other issues.

Only grind-loving, masochistic role players need apply.

Brunswick Pro Bowling proffers dry simulation fare that only a big fan of professional bowling could love.

Brunswick Pro Bowling proffers dry simulation fare that only a big fan of professional bowling could love.

Brunswick Pro Bowling proffers dry simulation fare that only a big fan of professional bowling could love.

Sensible puzzles and an adventurous story make Destination: Treasure Island a treat for all ages.

Brain Age 2 provides more of the same noggin-teasing puzzles in the same format and presentation as the original game.

Majesco's portable shooter is a decent distraction, but not much more.

Hexic 2's new multiplayer mode adds frenetic new fun to an already-sharp puzzle game.

There is no doubt that Ecco the Dolphin shows its age, but it's still one of the most unique games out there. Watching Ecco leap out of the water and navigate the murky depths is still a lot of fun. You'll probably want to pass on this rendition of Ecco's adventure if you've played it on other systems because the improvements don't enhance the gameplay experience all that much.

An awkward interface and visual problems take the shine off of this well-intentioned D&D role-playing game.

At times shocking and always intense, Persona 3 is not a game you are likely to forget.

The best part of Luminous Arc is its balanced and accessible gameplay, though it lacks some narrative depth.

Heroes of Mana is an ambitious and sloppy game that will both entertain and infuriate you.

Despite a totally different visual style and the introduction of combat, Rune Factory still delivers a relatively straight-ahead Harvest Moon experience.

Fatal Fury Special is the cornerstone of this collection. If that means anything to you, Fatal Fury Battle Archives Volume 1 might be worth a look.

Madden NFL 08 is a significant step forward for the series, bringing to the table features that are legitimately game-changing.

Madden NFL 08 is a significant step forward for the series, bringing to the table features that are legitimately game-changing.

It's not the revelation that last year's debut was, but Madden NFL 08 is a worthy follow-up and a fun game in its own right.

The older console versions of Madden 08 offer a few control upgrades and a couple of bizarre new modes, but otherwise, this might as well be last year's game.

Madden NFL 08 is a good handheld football game, but it offers little new content to make it worthwhile to those who already bought last year's game.

Madden NFL 08 is a solid, feature-rich football game. Furthermore, all of the various minor improvements make it the best Madden to hit the DS yet.

Beyond a roster update and a couple of small additions, there's little to Madden NFL 08 on the PC to make it worthwhile to anyone who bought last year's game.

The older console versions of Madden 08 offer a few control upgrades and a couple of bizarre new modes, but otherwise, this might as well be last year's game.

The older console versions of Madden 08 offer a few control upgrades and a couple of bizarre new modes, but otherwise, this might as well be last year's game.