Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment revives an aged tactical role-playing game franchise in a decidedly formulaic fashion.

Hockey fans will be able to play Gretzky '06 without much frustration or duress, but that's really about all you can say for it.

There are some good minigames in Mario Party 8, but the overly familiar, chance-heavy board game wrapper gets in their way.

Despite being plenty of fun and sporting a few new tweaks, Pokemon Black 2 fails to outshine its predecessors.

Another pop-culture museum piece gets the time-warp treatment, this time the apparently ageless Impossible Mission.

Hot Pixel is Atari's take on the WarioWare games. It's not bad, it's just blatantly derivative.

Improvements over the PSP game make the Wii version of Root of Evil a competent, stylish platformer.

Numerous bugs and glitches, some superficial and some serious, as well as a cumbersome and often frustrating control scheme seriously hurt the game, making it considerably less enjoyable than it could have been.

A new dual-stick control system breathes life into what is otherwise a well-worn and sometimes frustrating game.

Inconsistent presentation and licensing issues trip up Wallabies Rugby Challenge's run for the try line, but enjoyable gameplay and a wealth of modes give it a decent chance at life beyond the World Cup.

Novel time-manipulation mechanics are crippled by clumsy platforming in this downloadable puzzle game.

By neglecting to address the fundamental problems of the original and slicing out the online play, Monster Hunter Freedom negates the few improvements it makes to its PlayStation 2 predecessor.

Beyond the name, there isn't anything remarkable about The Secrets of Da Vinci. It's a solid but standard point-and-click adventure that isn't the least bit adventurous. Despite that, it still proves satisfying enough for fans of adventure games.

Probably won't keep you occupied for long, especially if you're not playing it with a rowdy group of friends. But it can make for some good, silly fun in short spurts.

Top Gun delivers some intense aerial action while it lasts, but it's a very short ride.

A mostly pleasant game marred by the possibility of moments so frustrating, they threaten to overshadow the entire experience. These missteps are all the more disappointing because the better elements of the game are so charming. You may still want to take up the PolterGust 5000 and explore these haunted houses, but be warned: the things lurking in these dark places aren't likely to scare you, but they may well have you seeing red.

Pokemon Conquest's fun setting and rewarding strategic elements are hampered by slow, overly simplistic combat.

The disconnect between the gameplay and the narrative elements of Spec Ops: The Line is numbing, which makes it more difficult to contemplate the murky morality of war in the way the game wants you to.

This tower-defense-style game brings some unique ideas and bizarre humor to the table, but is hampered by frustratingly unpredictable units.

BlackSite: Area 51 is an ordinary first-person shooter that's held back by a collection of bugs and other issues.

Kung Fu Panda’s wonky combat is balanced out by its attractive style, quality audio, and solid platforming.

The core Bomberman gameplay remains as enjoyable as ever, but there's very little to set Battlefest apart from its predecessors.

Zooming around with your jetpack can be a lot of fun, but routine shooter action and long flightless sections keep Dark Void from flying high.

TMNT doesn't wear its nostalgic aspects particularly well, and the remaining components simply don't make for a very entertaining experience.

Dynasty Warriors 6 plays it safe with the series' standard button-mashing formula, and as such is little more than a prettier version of every other game in the series.

If you can stomach its repetitive combat and odd cinematics, Moon Diver provides a moderately satisfying button-mashing experience.

It nails the show's insanely enjoyable brand of humor, but can't quite pull out a gameplay design to match.

This remake is solid fan service, but recycled content and disjointed exploration limit its appeal.

A visually breathtaking platformer, but unsatisfying puzzles make it less enchanting than it should be.

The tennis is merely average, but Sega Superstars Tennis' challenges and minigames are creatively done and a lot of fun.

Blacklight: Retribution doesn't stand out from the crowd, but this free-to-play shooter offers a decent amount of bang for your non-buck.

Tedium and aimlessness cast a shadow on Opoona's glowing charm.

Everything positive that has been added to the game doesn't do anything to counteract the mechanical artificial intelligence and visual problems that plague much of it.

A decent first effort at simulating the chosen sport of wizards, it falls short of its promise primarily because of sluggish controls and shallow gameplay.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a fun throwback to a simpler era, but visibility issues and a lack of online co-op get in the way of your enjoyment.

Touch-screen controls will help you achieve Zen with this large collection of tangram-style puzzles.

March Madness 08 has some new moves, but it's still not ready for the big dance.

Enjoy a fun fantasy adventure and addictive farm management without having to wake up at dawn.

X-Blades is a competent action game, but it lacks the fine touch that could have made it something special. It just cannot seem to make the most of its solid backbone.

Driver: Parallel Lines is a mostly competent GTA clone, but the dull storyline and remedial gameplay prevent it from being recommendable.

If you can forgive the game's dated-looking graphics, its rather basic gameplay model, and its comparative level of ease--which is, admittedly, a lot to forgive--you can have a good time with Serious Sam: Next Encounter.

Captain America bashes enemies with style, but a dull story and bland visuals keep Super Soldier from being a star-spangled success.

An interesting time-shifting mechanic and fun-to-shoot weapons can't make up for the rest of TimeShift's run-of-the-mill first-person shooter gameplay.

It's primarily the strength of its cast and its presentation, not the strength of its gameplay, that sustains you through the many long hours of this quest.

Captain America bashes enemies with style, but a dull story and bland visuals keep Super Soldier from being a star-spangled success.

FIFA Street 3 has plenty of style but not quite enough substance to justify the price of admission.

It nails the show's insanely enjoyable brand of humor, but can't quite pull out a gameplay design to match.

The End Is Nigh serves up light beat-'em-up fare with a Watchmen flavor. Those hungry for anything substantial will be disappointed.

This flawed horror adventure gets the atmosphere right, though it isn't as sharp as it could have been.

The Simpsons Game is exceptionally funny, but the hobbled Wii control scheme sucks out what little fun there was to be had with the gameplay.

Unfortunately, this combination doesn't work nearly as well as its NHL predecessor, and, while the end result can be fun, overall it's a pretty big leap backward for the Blitz series.

Trial-and-error frustrations diminish the impact of this add-on's great characters and dialogue.

Though it's short and easy, Transformers Animated features some interesting gameplay and great presentation.

Realistic animations and a satisfying two-player mode make Backbreaker: Vengeance fun for a while, but that quickly fades away.

Tides of Destiny makes several good changes to the Rune Factory formula, making for a fun adventure in fantasy farming.

Tomb Raider Underworld can be an enjoyable adventure, but it’s marred by bugs, camera issues, and ill-conceived Wii extras.

Harnessing the power of gravity is exhilarating, but dull combat keeps Gravity Rush from being the soaring success it could have been.

On the DS, Surf's Up is a fun, kart-style racer with a satisfying trick system and two worthwhile multiplayer options.

These two episodes boast brutally entertaining combat, but repetition dampens the excitement after a while.

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

The sleek, superficial action of After Burner Climax is thrilling in short bursts but not deep enough to last.

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

As long as you're not too hung up on variety and plot, these breaking-and-entering brainteasers will delight puzzle fans.

A disappointing package that clocks in much closer to the other Syphon Filter sequels instead of standing up to the fantastic original game.

Marvel TCG isn't too bad as far as digital trading-card games go, but it's unlikely to convert anyone not already invested in TCGs.

Hanging 10 in this movie-licensed surfing game has its moments--just don't expect to enjoy it for very long.

Sega is gunning for the Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh! set with Amazing Island, but the game lacks the gameplay depth that makes Pokemon a guilty pleasure for older gamers and the strong branding that makes Yu-Gi-Oh! so ubiquitous with the lunchbox-and-backpack crowd.

The excellent control scheme is able to save this otherwise average adventure for a little while, but the many missteps of the campaign become suffocating before too long. The multiplayer, too, is entertaining for a few hours, but the seven maps are too simple and predictable to provide a consistently thrilling experience.

The prince's high-flying adventure is marred by camera issues and weak combat, but the excellent platforming is still loads of fun.

Sonic's first foray into the role-playing realm is a laudable effort, but it ultimately falls short of its potential.

Marvel TCG isn't too bad as far as digital trading-card games go, but it's unlikely to convert anyone not already invested in TCGs.

Karateka is an attractive remake of a classic, but simplistic combat and limited replay value keep it from greatness.

While certainly fun, it's so short you should probably just rent it.

If you didn't like GripShift on the PSP this version won't change your mind, but it's a good value and worth a look for anyone who hasn't yet played the handheld version of this driving/platform game.

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground gets most of the Tony Hawk formula down, but the parts that stray from that formula are the parts that don't work out so well.

This follow-up collection of minigames isn't nearly as captivating or humorous as its predecessor, but it still has its moments.

Dante's epic quest loses momentum long before you reach the end.

The presentation of the PS2 version is seriously lacking, and the lengthy loading times and the huge oversight in the save system make it less than enjoyable to play.

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

Infinite Undiscovery feeds your need for narrative, but it's ultimately a shallow, flawed experience.

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D offers addictive, score-attack action, but lacks the content to make it more than a fun minigame.

It's technically competent in the end, and many of its little touches are quite impressive, but there are clearly more memorable shooters of its kind already available.

The game still has quite a few other problems, namely a horrible camera and a general lack of polish.

Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition adds a new multiplayer mode to this strange action game, but it's still an average beat-'em-up at best.

Lively multiplayer modes and a considerable campaign are hampered by bothersome network issues in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.

Deadlight draws you in with its rich, pervasive atmosphere, but doesn't give you much to do once you're there.

The game is clearly best suited for hardcore fans of Capcom's fighting games, who might enjoy exploring some of the nuances here but probably won't find much reason to keep coming back.

This entertaining update to the classic arcade game is fun while it lasts, which is under an hour.

A decent first effort at simulating the chosen sport of wizards, it falls short of its promise primarily because of sluggish controls and shallow gameplay.

It's not a bad game, but Silverfall's enormous potential and pretty graphics are overshadowed by its weak story, poor interface, and frustrating design elements.

Full Auto is a neat idea, but unfortunately it's just one neat idea, stretched across the entire game. And that wears thin pretty quickly.

Shipwreck Showdown improves upon Feeding Frenzy in almost every way, but it's still too easy and too short.

Phantasy Star Zero gives DS owners a taste of everything that made Phantasy Star Online great nine years ago--and also what makes it seem dated today.

With its numerous game modes and customization options, there's a lot to do in Dungeon Defenders. Too bad its fundamentals don't measure up.

Technical flaws mar, but don't totally destroy, this long and fascinating role-playing game.

The sleek, superficial action of After Burner Climax is thrilling in short bursts but not deep enough to last.

This short adventure game nails the feel of both the show and the island on which it's set, but struggles with some of the characters.

Zooming around with your jetpack can be a lot of fun, but routine shooter action and long flightless sections keep Dark Void from flying high.