Sonic Rivals keeps it simple and offers plenty of high-speed thrills, though it also has its share of frustrating moments.

Disney's Meet the Robinsons is a fairly satisfying movie tie-in that borrows heavily from a number of classic adventure and action games.

NFL Street 3 doesn't manage to be consistently entertaining, and the new wrinkles in its gameplay don't do enough to differentiate it from previous games in the series. Unlike Ocho Cinco, Street 3 is probably a bit too safe for its own good.

An easy game to pick up and play, but unless you're a big fan of the license there isn't much to keep you playing.

A competent action role-playing game and a decent movie tie-in.

An easy game to pick up and play, but unless you're a big fan of the license there isn't much to keep you playing.

Double Dragon for the Xbox Live Arcade will provide some quick entertainment for nostalgia fiends, but the game doesn't hold up as well as you might hope.

Despite Third Dawn, Ultima Online still isn't easy to get into; it's an acquired taste, which many acquired back when there was nothing else available or similar.

Resident Evil 3 isn't the best place to start for a newcomer to the series. It's a zombie-killing rampage that lacks the inventive game structure that made "Resident Evil 2" so good.

Has a fantastic look, but its gameplay unsuccessfully tries to straddle the line between simulation-style tuning options and arcade-style handling and collision physics.

Has an outstanding premise, but it's ultimately a disappointment.

Ultimately a decent effort, but only because of its online play. The offline component of the game is simply too pointless and spotty to hold anyone's attention.

If you're an RPG fan looking for some lighter fare, Torneko is a charming little adventure that manages to push the nostalgia button without feeling overly dated.

A perfect example of a game that doesn't have any serious problems but doesn't do anything to really set itself apart, making it difficult to recommend because there are better alternatives available.

An interesting, stylish take on pinball wizardry that's just fine, considering its budget price. However, the designs of the different stages are a little lacking.

But the actual gameplay feels like too much of a nebulous gray area between arcade and simulation, and both the presentation and the features set are lacking.

Disney's Meet the Robinsons is a fairly satisfying movie tie-in that borrows heavily from a number of classic adventure and action games.

A fun experience that's unfortunately spoiled by a terrible frame rate that all but breaks the game. It can be entertaining to experiment with different traps, but after a few hours the game starts to feel repetitive, and it doesn't offer enough of a challenge to keep you coming back for more.

The core game is still virtually identical to the original.

The execution of many of Gangland's different elements falls short of its lofty promise, thus leaving a game that has a lot of good ideas but is sometimes convoluted and often frustrating.

This console and PC trip through the Wardrobe is a mostly run-of-the-mill action adventure that might hold some measure of appeal to fans of the film, but not so much anyone else.

The rather simple fighting system in DBZ Budokai is really the key factor that's going to keep it from appealing to many people outside of the DBZ fan base.

If you can overlook the cheap AI, you'll probably enjoy Test Drive.

It doesn't really go too far out of its way to distinguish itself.

Aside from the kinks related to combat and level layout, the game's control feels a little bit loose when you're simply running around...[but it] will likely manage to draw you in, especially if you can get into the creepy aesthetics and earnestly engaging story.

There's not much enthusiasm in Untold Legends. This leaves a game that, while hitting most of the necessary bullet points, is just going through the motions.

A pretty faithful remake of a fondly remembered NES game, though this works against its success almost as much as it helps its cause.

It ultimately does what few updated classics do well - it brings new concepts to a well-known game while keeping the fun and magic of the original game.

Unfortunately, NFL Street 3 isn't consistently entertaining, and the new wrinkles in its gameplay don't do enough to differentiate it from previous games in the series. Unlike Ocho Cinco, Street 3 is probably a bit too safe for its own good.

If you don't mind the lack of depth, however, Bang! Gunship Elite will send your senses for a loop.

Avatar on the PSP is a solid hack-and-slash that will likely appeal to fans of the show as well as anyone that has enjoyed similar games in the past.

The bad news is that Gretzky still isn't anywhere near as good as the current crop of competition, and it simply lacks the features and depth needed to be considered one of the big boys.

It's still technically a solid game, but at this point it almost feels totally obsolete.

On the surface, Mario Party 6 seems to offer some of the biggest fundamental changes the series has ever seen. But this is really just a fresh coat of paint on an old building. Luckily for us, though, the building's foundation is still pretty strong.

This console and PC trip through the Wardrobe is a mostly run-of-the-mill action adventure that might hold some measure of appeal to fans of the film, but not so much anyone else.

At the heart of it, the experience is pretty much identical to that of last year's game.

Bounty Hounds has a unique visual style and some appealing gameplay concepts, but the core action is too repetitive and shallow to sustain your interest for very long.

If you're looking for a management game that won't overwhelm you with details and spreadsheets, School Tycoon should be right up your alley.

This otherwise ordinary-to-a-fault action game is given a shot in the arm by its relatively cool gameplay techniques, which--at least--make the game's short ride interesting.

While the gameplay in THAW is still sharp, this installment just seems to lack that special spark that made the series so much fun in the first place.

Spider-Man 3 isn't anything special, but it's a solid 2D action game that lets you cut loose with Spidey's abilities.

Those who will only settle for the best in terms of flight model fidelity and cutting-edge graphics should let this one fly on by.

An enjoyable if short-lived experience, and it serves as a good introduction for the uninitiated to the world of rhythm games.

The four tables aren't the greatest tables in the world, and the camera angles and presentation could use a little work, but the solid ball physics go a long way.

Its gameplay systems are solid, as are its presentation and production values--it really is the game that Gigawing could have been.

WipeOut 64 isn't horrible, it just feels like the developer's first effort for the system at times - which it is. The one- and two-player modes are worth exploring, but the game will still likely be disappointing for hard-core fans of the series who expected more improvements after the two-year wait.

This can still be an exciting and visceral game of realistic shooting action, and the online play is pretty well executed, if you can get past the loading times. However, if you have the means to play Rainbow Six 3 on one of the other platforms, then this version is best avoided.

The strengths of Fritz 9 will likely only appeal to the most advanced chess players.

The game that once inspired awe with its wacky style and bizarre game mechanics in 1998 is getting a bit stale.

The strategy is complex and rewarding, but the menu shuffling and extremely slow pace won't earn the series any new fans.

A huge improvement over the last two games. Of course, that isn't saying much. Actually, Regeneration is a lot of fun to play, but it's marred by a host of bugs and an ugly presentation.

It's a game that only a DBZ fan could <I>love</I>, but it's a proficient enough fighting game that others might like it.

This multiplayer-only shooter does absolutely nothing with the Shadowrun name, and its unique strengths are offset by a lack of variety.

Its wide selection of options is often plagued by repetition, and is confusing to navigate because of a poor interface.

For shooter fans in serious need of something new to play, Area 51 fits the bill adequately. But for anyone looking for something more than an average shooter, it probably isn't worth it.

If staring at a brainteaser for lengthy periods of time is your idea of excitement, or if the idea of creating puzzles and sharing them with like-minded friends is intriguing to you, then you'll find enough enjoyable mind-benders to make this worth a purchase.

Cooking Mama is a cute, charming little cooking-themed minigame collection, but it lacks direction and depth.

A platformer, characterized most notably by its fusion of classic Pac-Man moments and generic platforming gameplay.

Cuban Missile Crisis is a unique strategy game with a very cool premise and setting, though the combat itself can be a difficult mess.

This wide selection of options is often plagued by repetition and is confusing to navigate because of a poor interface.

At its best, Of Light and Darkness will remind you of the classic TV series The Prisoner. It can be artfully disorienting and promise hidden depths of meaning. But at its worst, it seems more like the second season of Twin Peaks, when the obscurity gets self-serving, and the payoff is meager compared with its initial pretensions.

The action is fast and basically satisfying, resulting in what's a simple but fairly good game all around.

If Quake is a game experience you don't want to miss, and if a Nintendo is all you have, then Quake 64 is your ticket.

A platformer, characterized most notably by its fusion of classic Pac-Man moments and generic platforming gameplay.

The addictive and fun head-to-head gameplay takes some time to wear out its welcome, and the new options included in the game will pacify NBA Jam veterans enough to warrant a rental.

The new single-player story mode and bonus games add a little more longevity to the game, the fundamental experience is still largely the same as that offered in previous Mario Party games. If you bought "Mario Party 4" last year, Mario Party 5 is hard to recommend.

In a lot of ways, Gekido Advance: Kintaro's Revenge feels less like a commercial product and more like a fan-made tribute to the genre of 2D beat-'em-ups.

This otherwise ordinary-to-a-fault action game is given a shot in the arm by its relatively cool gameplay techniques, which--at least--make the game's short ride interesting.

This tactical combat game features battles, battles, and more battles, and it's fun, though very light on content or depth.

It feels dated, yes, but a lot of the quality still stands up, and with strategy being a scarce commodity on the GameCube, it's hard to argue with the game's bargain-basement price tag.

Gale of Darkness retains the basic monster-battling formula as its predecessor, but with a longer single-player game and a few minor gameplay tweaks to address some common complaints about the previous game. As a result, the only people who will really appreciate this game are those who are already familiar with the series.

If you're not a huge fan or a newcomer to the series, you may find that Crazy Taxi 3 doesn't have much more to keep you coming back.

A platformer, characterized most notably by its fusion of classic Pac-Man moments and generic platforming gameplay.

Due to its short length and relative ease, Men in Black II: Alien Escape is a game you'd probably want to rent rather than purchase, but it's fun while it lasts.

Though still providing some fun, fast-paced fighting action, Supersonic Warriors 2 lacks some of the care of its predecessor and feels like a somewhat slapdash GBA-to-DS conversion.

While it isn't quite as successful as "Spy Hunter" at re-creating the feel of the old game, Defender still puts on a decent show.

May be a little rough around the edges, but Ulala's still swingin' after all this time.

Could have benefited from a better interface, but at its core, Battlegrounds is still a decent game.

This multiplayer-only shooter does absolutely nothing with the Shadowrun name, and its unique strengths are offset by a lack of variety.

Ultimately a decent effort, but only because of its online play. The offline component of the game is simply too pointless and spotty to hold anyone's attention.

Fans of arcade-style tennis games like "Virtua Tennis" or "Smash Court" will probably find the gameplay in WTA Tour Tennis a bit sluggish, and the lack of variety in the modes doesn't help the game's case, either.

Unfortunately, this new presentation isn't fully realized, leading to awkward camera angles and needlessly confusing gameplay.

It's just too bad that overly linear missions and noninteractive 3D action get in the way of the deep political strategizing of Republic's later levels.

If you're a big-time Yu Yu Hakusho fan looking to step into the shoes of Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, or any of the other notable characters from the series, you'll definitely find Dark Tournament to be a much more engaging experience than if you were just looking for a good 3D fighting game.

Eragon doesn't do much to embellish its simplistic design, but it's a surprisingly satisfying role-playing game despite its shorcomings.

Blazing Angels has a decent campaign and a fair amount of online options, but its standard gameplay and a lack of online competition prevent it from being very exciting.

[It] does not suffer from any single huge, crippling flaw; rather, a handful of smaller problems plague the game and keep it from achieving BMX greatness.

While some might be initially put off by the youthful nature of "Kirby 64," the depth of the power combo system really brings a lot to what would otherwise be an average platformer.

Advance Guardian Heroes isn't as satisfying as the sequel to one of the Saturn's greatest games should be, but it is a decent beat-'em-up that should please people who go into it knowing exactly what to expect.

Serious Sam II has a lot of levels and a few good laughs, but its simple shooting action is less likely to get your adrenaline pumping as it is to make you go numb.

Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble retains the same great style and attitude on the PSP, but the game is too fast and frantic for its own good.

Like its predecessor, Vietcong 2 offers up some challenging gameplay, though it's plagued by technical issues and short campaigns.

Birth of America's challenging artificial intelligence and historical authenticity will please grizzled wargamers, but it doesn't do quite enough to broaden the genre's appeal to newcomers.

While it accomplishes its goal of providing a fun WWII-themed shooting gallery, it doesn't really shine in any one particular area, resulting in a game that's competent but not very compelling.

The overall solid game design barely avoids being overshadowed by unexceptional production values.

Just doesn't feel like much of a step forward in the series. Instead it feels more like a big step sideways.

Most Wanted 5-1-0 has most of what's needed to make a good PSP racing game, but it lacks the biggest one of all: excitement.

The game's unbalanced units, as well as a few interface problems, cut it short of its potential.