Track & Field holds up fairly well and makes for some good, albeit short-term, fun.

Fare Wars offers up the first two Dreamcast Crazy Taxi games on the PSP, though neither game has held up particularly well.

Despite various minor improvements, Mega Man Star Force isn't significantly different than the GBA Battle Network games.

Despite various minor improvements, Mega Man Star Force isn't significantly different than the GBA Battle Network games.

Despite various minor improvements, Mega Man Star Force isn't significantly different than the GBA Battle Network games.

Boogie's gameplay mix of singing and dancing is an interesting idea, but it's poorly executed.

Forget about flight-sim physics and just enjoy this dumbed-down take on air combat over the Pacific in World War II.

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

Chameleon isn't going to replace any of your favorite DS puzzle games anytime soon, but it's not a bad puzzler in its own right.

Getting to play chess or checkers online against friends is pretty much the sole reason to own this ramshackle collection of games.

The spiritual predecessor to Halo is an interesting glimpse to the dawn of the shooter age, but the gameplay feels dated at this point.

Brave Story follows the traditional role-playing-game formula to the letter and ultimately turns in a serviceable, though unremarkable experience.

You've got to give Nucleus a bit of credit for not just being a pure Robotron clone, but its oddball take on the dual-stick shooter isn't much fun.

Harvest Moon: Back to Nature and Harvest Moon for Girls are poorly ported together in this bundle that brings nothing new to the farm.

Picross DS is a high-quality collection of logic puzzles at a terrific bargain price.

Mario's soccer sequel is a markedly more enjoyable game than its predecessor, especially for those who prefer the multiplayer arena.

Escape from Bug Island is a dismal reminder of the low points of survival horror's past.

Wing Commander Arena has the right idea, but the gameplay and presentation come together to form an extremely dull experience.

This multiplayer-focused, handheld distillation of the Dynasty Warriors formula is barely entertaining enough to sustain its two-hour length.

Super Contra's blistering level of difficulty makes it best suited for those looking for an exceptionally punishing arcade run-and-gun experience.

A sense of murky monotony sucks most of the life out of this action RPG remake of Sega's classic arcade shooter.

A sense of murky monotony sucks most of the life out of this action RPG remake of Sega's classic arcade shooter.

The updated graphics are pretty, but the chaotic leveling system and aged gameplay don't hold up very well.

There are certainly some bona fide '80s showstoppers on this expansion, but all told, this is Guitar Hero II with a coat of neon paint and half as much content.

NASCAR 08 is a decent racer, but it feels like a classic example of a game where the developer put in limited effort because of the lack of competition.

NASCAR 08 is a decent racer, but it feels like a classic example of a game where the developer put in limited effort because of the lack of competition.

NASCAR 08 isn't a bad game; in fact, it's fun once you get the hang of it. Its biggest problem is that it's not noticeably better than last year's game and there aren't any compelling new features. If you own any NASCAR game from the past few years, you might as well stick with that one.

Beyond the Sword's additions are primarily to Civ IV's core gameplay, so the expansion doesn't make a huge leap forward in terms of graphics or sound.

A $30 game about winning fake money by picking random numbers is awful to begin with, but a completely broken version of said game is another story altogether.

This game has a short offline fuse, but is a blast to play online or with friends.

It's a relic from arcade's past that probably won't appeal to new players, but outside of being able to say "Hey, I remember liking this game back in the day," old arcade buffs probably won't get $5 out of it either.

The PC version of GRAW 2 is custom-built for the platform, and it's so difficult that it appears to have been custom-built for masochists, as well.

Even though a lot of what's new is a bit rough around the edges, NCAA Football 08 is a great game with a lot to offer.

The PlayStation 2 and Xbox version of NCAA Football 08 didn't get many new features this year, but it's still a great game if you don't own NCAA 07.

The in-game presentation doesn't have much of a college football feel to it, and the amount of turnovers will likely frustrate many hardcore fans. But even with these issues, NCAA Football 08 is a great game and another step in the right direction for the franchise.

Tales fans will enjoy the familiar faces, but for everyone else, Radiant Mythology is just another formulaic RPG.

Hot Shots Tennis has some of the ingredients found in the Hot Shots Golf series, but Clap Hanz forgot to add fun into the mix.

The seminal rhythm game makes its PSP debut with a chunk of new content, but the gameplay hasn't quite withstood the test of time.

Rugby 08 isn't much of a step-up from the previous game in the franchise, but it still offers pick-up-and-play fun for both novices and rugby fanatics.

The PlayStation 2 and Xbox version of NCAA Football 08 didn't get many new features this year, but it's still a great game if you don't own NCAA 07.

2K football returns with solid gameplay and a new focus on classic players, though the roster isn't the only aspect of the game that feels old.

2K football returns with solid gameplay and a new focus on classic players, though the roster isn't the only aspect of the game that feels old.

Smash Court Tennis 3 is a decent game that plays it safe and doesn't bring much new to table.

Tedious quests and little payoff make this Korean massively multiplayer online game a real grind.

Even with some game-balance issues, ThreadSpace: Hyperbol is an interesting combination of action and tactics.

A great story and likable characters make it easier to overlook Riviera's limited combat and exploration.

Between its unlimited continues and crusty looks, you're probably only going to be interested in this game if you liked it back in 1989.

It's still Sonic the Hedgehog, and though it's not quite the quintessential Sonic experience, it's still a classic.

Project Sylpheed is a short and needlessly complicated space shooter that gets by on its cutscenes more than its gameplay.

A once-great helicopter combat sim is still pretty good, if you don't mind the déjà vu.

A few fun minigames don't make the watered-down story and tedious fetch quests tolerable.

Speed and crazy difficulty make this Rainbow Six rip-off with a British accent immensely frustrating.

Chicken Shoot is like Duck Hunt for idiots.

Missile Command on Xbox Live Arcade only serves to illustrate that an analog stick can't replace a track ball.

Puzzle problems and a terrible interface land Dead Reefs on the rocks.

If you're a Ninja Gaiden enthusiast, you'll want to see the new chapters, reworked levels, and slicker graphics. And if for some reason you missed it before, this is a must-play game. The action is intense, focused, and certainly not for the faint of heart. It's also among the most satisfying in all of gaming and remains as awe-inspiring as ever, three years after its original release.

Fanged killing machines and clunky level design make this vampiric sneaker a real pain in the neck.

Floating adrift in the middle of the Pacific would rival the entertainment value of this strategyless strategy game.

Cookie & Cream simultaneously blends 3D exploration with 2D minigames in a refreshing way, but the level layouts are bland and repetitive.

While the racing is solid, it's tough to recommend Hot Wheels Ultimate Racing when so many other, similar games on the PSP offer more bang for your buck.

Thanks to poor controls, a paltry list of game modes, and a lack of real-life players not named Rafael Nadal, Rafa Nadal Tennis double-faults in its Nintendo DS debut.

If you have room in your heart for yet another Robotron clone, Super Stardust HD is a good addition to this well-worn genre.

As a simple, yet effective translation of the German board game, Carcassonne proves an oddly addictive experience.

Rainbow Six is reinvented and reinvigorated for a new age thanks to beautiful visuals and top-notch tactical shooting action.

This action RPG from Quotix Software hits new lows in mind-numbing combat and ridiculously confusing level design.

A big, loud, shallow action game that severely lacks in content.

Transformers: The Game is a big, loud, shallow action game that severely lacks in content.

A big, loud, shallow action game that severely lacks in content.

A big, loud, shallow action game that severely lacks in content.

The pure joy of commanding a small army of malicious minions more than makes up for Overlord's minor shortcomings.

The pure joy of commanding a small army of malicious minions more than makes up for Overlord's minor shortcomings.

Lost Planet's strong single-player campaign stands out, in spite of buggy online functionality and other missteps.

The umpteenth remake of Final Fantasy I is pretty to look at, but the gameplay is showing its age.

GrimGrimoire is a creative, one-of-a-kind game that's a lot of fun to play.

With plenty of panache and some clever twists, Nervous Brickdown manages to make the classic Breakout formula feel fun and fresh again.

Sloppy controls and occasional glitches make Ratatouille one kid-unfriendly platformer.

Ratatouille is a sufficient, if unfulfilling, platformer.

Ratatouille is a sufficient, if unfulfilling, platformer.

Complex levels and a lengthy quest almost make up for the game's derivative design.

Ratatouille for the DS serves up a lively mix of 3D levels and touch-screen cooking tasks, but it's over too soon.

Ratatouille is a sufficient, if unfulfilling, platformer.

Driver: Parallel Lines is a mediocre GTA clone with a dull storyline, second-rate gameplay, and subpar control.

Driver: Parallel Lines looks seriously outdated on the PC. Its dull story and gameplay prevent it from being recommendable.

Any Defender of the Crown lovers from the '80s should leave their good memories intact and ignore this desecration.

Expansive levels and artsy graphics help make Ratatouille on the GBA an enjoyable romp, even if it is way too easy.

Ratatouille is a sufficient, if unfulfilling, platformer.

Ratatouille is a sufficient, if unfulfilling, platformer.

A remarkable action game that tells a compelling story from start to finish.

A remarkable action game that tells a compelling story from start to finish.

Big strikeouts and even bigger homers make The BIGS a great arcade baseball game.

Big strikeouts and even bigger homers make The BIGS a great arcade baseball game.

Big strikeouts and even bigger homers make The BIGS a very good arcade baseball game.

Big strikeouts and even bigger homers make The BIGS a fun arcade baseball game, flaws and all.

Big strikeouts and even bigger homers make The BIGS a great arcade baseball game.

Hour of Victory is practically broken and has no business being on shelves in its current state.

Touchmaster is packed with a wide variety of good, casual games.

Hoshigami is an overcooked hodgepodge that's too unwieldy for strategy RPG newcomers and too imbalanced for experts.

The video game version of Order of the Phoenix captures none of the magic in the Harry Potter books or films.