This trio may not look or sound as nice as recent games developed specifically for the GBA, but they're far from ugly, and, more importantly, the gameplay in each of them still holds up.

Double Dragon Neon revitalizes the classic franchise, but a few missteps derail the silly fun.

Chinatown Detective Agency goes down as one of my favorite detective games ever. You may not be actually doing any detective work and solving mysteries--you're not asked to figure out what's a clue, what it means, and how it may connect to other clues. But, even so, Chinatown Detective Agency successfully emulates the deductive reasoning necessary to be an investigator by simply tasking you with figuring out how to interpret a confusing clue. A collection of bugs and superfluous systems drag down the experience a bit, but the Singaporean setting makes for a thrilling setup for some real-world sleuthing, and excellent voice acting and a compelling protagonist sell the dystopian but somewhat tragically beautiful cybernoir future.

Despite the removal of the microtransactions, player progression is still largely tied to the randomized loot boxes--mitigating player agency and choice in multiplayer.

Manages to serve up a nice variety of ways to shoot the hell out of a lot of cyborgs as well as to keep things fresh and interesting throughout its relatively short, but still enjoyable 14 missions.

This series has remained stagnant for far too long, and WWE 2K18 doesn't change things.

It's a professionally executed but thoroughly conventional action game that's more tepid than it is thrilling.

A game that has eliminated most of the ugly bugs from last year's entry, but it still doesn't manage to rise much above the quality of its predecessor.

Among the Sleep is a distinctive and promising first game from new Norwegian studio Krillbite, and though the dreams it conjures might be scary, it ultimately leaves you with the feeling that you're strong enough to face your fears, in dreams or otherwise.

Like the original game on launch day, this expansion pack balances good points with bad almost every step of the way, resulting in yet another turn-based fantasy adventure that isn't all that it could be.

A memorable setting and engaging characters make Culpa Innata a strikingly unusual adventure game.

Unfortunately, the gameplay feels too much like a mishmash of several other well-known gaming franchises and ends up overly simplistic.

Even if the touch-screen controls hadn't stripped away much of the subtlety of the sport, True Swing Golf would still be a lean and flavorless game of golf.

Smashing other robots and transforming into different vehicles is generally fun, but the game is short and the missions are often uninspiring.

The shooter portions of Geist aren't all that special, but there's a lot more to this game than meets the eye.

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

The graphics are only OK, even for an Xbox game, and compromises in the gameplay design hamper the experience, making GRAW feel like just another military-themed shooter.

It isn't quite as great as fans of the series would like, but it still should be given a shot. It's also worth playing to those lonely for another vampire game or wanting a change of pace from all the first-person shooters.

Though it's like a fish out of water on the PC, this straight port of a great, gruelingly fast and intense PlayStation 2 action adventure game can still be exciting.

This downloadable prologue is a bit barren, but it still packs a delightfully destructive punch.

The best-looking and best-sounding PlayStation Formula One title to date, and it has excellent gameplay and features to boot.

Although this isn't one of the finest-looking games for the Xbox console, those who are even remotely familiar with the characters and stories in a typical Scooby-Doo episode may still get a kick out of it.

The latest addition to this family of innovative city-building games leaves you wanting more, mostly because it offers so little that is new.

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.

The pacing is faster, and it's pretty satisfying viscerally. It's a decent buzz, but with a limited number of levels and a decided lack of depth, it wears off pretty quickly.

Though it features a few more annoying control restrictions than its console counterparts, it's still a solid platformer.

Unfortunately, the game hasn't aged well, and although it has plenty of personality, the maddening camera control and broken combat mechanics quickly spoil the fun.

Luxuria Superbia's unusual premise roused my interest early, but the game's resistance to offering anything new beyond its simple concept hinders it from finding a satisfying rhythm.

A stereotypical classic adventure. Future Games has done this one up in the traditional style popularized way back when by the likes of Sierra and LucasArts, so if you're a fan of this sort of old-school adventuring and don't demand that game designers reinvent the wheel, you can't go wrong here.

This misguided remake proves that you can never go home again.

This undead-themed dual-stick shooter is good, dumb, retro fun.

While the initial thrill of decorating the game's big spaces is fun, I wish there was something more cohesive that tied Happy Home Designer together--a way to play with friends or an actual village that takes shape as you add more and more denizens.

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

The racing isn't exactly the star of the show, but Crash Tag Team Racing's supplemental elements pull the whole thing together into a unique and mostly enjoyable experience.

Minor frustrations and inconsistency compound a game that's not very good in the first place, making it one of the least appealing platformer choices currently on the market.

While this online role-playing game may have been a hit for the PC and PlayStation 2, it feels very awkward and entirely out of place on the Xbox 360.

The game's difficult interface, unmanageable camera angles, and many technical problems all but overshadow Far Gate's various original qualities.

It's a clumsy port, but what's even more disappointing is that it's a clumsy port of only a middling console game.

A very passive experience, and as the novelty fades, so will your interest...If nothing else, it has laid the groundwork for other games to borrow and improve upon its excellent premise.

It's got a lot more depth and replay value than it might seem to have at first, and it's definitely worth taking a look at.

A solid, if somewhat simplistic, tennis game that uses a real-world license in an original and refreshing manner.

A respectable platformer that is held back somewhat by some annoying technical issues.

[It] features a wealth of gameplay modes and an impressive amount of on-field control. But the game's AI quirks, challenging batting, and camera problems are indicative of a game that has been rushed to market.

Right now, though, Pokemon Champions provides two different experiences for seasoned players and newcomers respectively--and unfortunately for newcomers, it's an uneven one that will require a lot of their own dedication and time to improve. Perhaps the barrier to entry for competitive Pokemon can never be smashed entirely, but Champions wears it down, and those willing to push through it will find one of the most thrilling competitive games on the other side.

This accessible snow-sports game doesn't improve on its predecessor as meaningfully as it might have, but is a lot of fun nonetheless.

The motion controls don't fundamentally change this movie-licensed platformer, but they don't get in the way either, and the adventure is still a breezily fun one.

Interacting with Daffy Duck and watching animated sequences unfold is fun, but there's barely a half-hour's worth of entertainment here.

The fun, challenging Oozi: Earth Adventure loses its charm in a sea of recycled ideas.

A fun and accessible tennis game with some playful gameplay touches, but it's hampered by a dully sophomoric sense of humor.

MacGyver-esque inventory puzzles make this an acceptable, if exceedingly conventional, adventure.

This add-on doesn't reach for the stars, but it features a couple of great characters and a smattering of quality moments.

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.

Heavy on style and light on coherency, but there's enough enjoyable action to keep things from flying apart at the seams.

F.E.A.R. Files serves up two stand-alone expansions for F.E.A.R., though one is definitely stronger than the other.

Its tactical focus and total absence of resource gathering or base building make the learning curve a little twisty for tank-rush types. However, the authenticity and atmosphere bring the Second World War to life in impressive fashion.

Despite poor presentation, WRC offers a realistic and satisfying rally experience.

While the game's wrestling mechanics are sound, the game's overwrought method of titillation gets completely in the way of the action, and the game's campy-to-a-fault story mode is just plain terrible.

Despite some attractive visuals, Desperados 2 is burdened by lame artificial intelligence and some very frustrating missions.

MR3 successfully combines five extremely unique motorcycle disciplines into one convenient package and delivers a substantial helping of thrills and spills. However, it is not nearly as deep as it initially appears or as sophisticated as a third installment should be.

RtCW has always been a pretty uninteresting single-player game, and without solid multiplayer to cushion the blow, the PlayStation 2 version of the game is a real failure.

A good middle-of-the-road trick-based racer that should please fans of the genre, and it's an accessible entry point for newcomers as well.

A thoughtfully designed, complex, and pretty fun game to play. Alas, a dearth of supplemental features and some flimsy presentation drag down what could have been a more solid overall package.

There's not a lot of depth to it, and there are certainly better ways to get a fix for your giant robot jones, but Encounters in Space still stands as one of the more accessible Gundam games to be released.

Commando 3 is an all-too-brief shooter that delivers high-caliber fun in solo and cooperative bursts.

Just an average action game. Even if some of the technical problems had been resolved before the game was finished, that wouldn't have made the majority of the missions in the game less boring. The game is also quite short.

The Clone Wars offers an ambitious step up from previous games in the series, but a ton of small issues across the board lead to boredom and frustration.

Destiny 2's Lightfall expansion doesn't make a good first impression, but beneath a threadbare story that relies on an exasperatingly fuzzy motivation for your Guardian, it still feels mechanically satisfying to dive into. Comparing it to the standard of excellence that 2022's The Witch Queen saga established only exposes the numerous shortcomings of Lightfall, and that's a shadow that the next year of seasonal content will need to step out of if Bungie wants to develop the expansion into something more than a middle-of-road entry that stumbles toward a final showdown that has been a decade in the making.

While combat is fun in moderation and the crafting system is bizarre in all the right ways, the flip side of this is dull and monotonous quest design, a forgettable story, and hollow morality. There's still an enjoyable game here, but a lot of unfortunate caveats come attached to that statement. Yet while it might not always hit the mark, Biomutant is an ambitiously flawed game from a small studio, and the games industry could always use more risky endeavors like this one.

There's a series of interesting crimes to solve in this DS adventure, but uncovering the truth is just too simple.

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

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.

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

Haemimont Games takes such a casual approach to everything, from the ancient Roman setting to the quickie campaign scenarios, so that many players will find little here to latch onto and really enjoy.

Some minor issues aside, Season Two is a fun collection of sporting activities that everyone can enjoy.

Wheelman offers plenty of movie-style thrills, although it's hamstrung by terrible on-foot gameplay.

Though the story is peppered with periods of inactivity that are detrimental to the pace, Sunset acts as a thoughtful, pensive walk through social themes and struggles not often explored in this medium.

Apache: Air Assault faithfully captures all the nuance of piloting an attack helicopter while including plenty of extras to keep fanatics coming back for more.

H1Z1 doesn't shake up the battle royale formula in any big way, but instead offers a simple, streamlined experience. It differentiates itself from its PC counterpart to its benefit by revamping the core systems at play, giving you just enough to work with in battle without being overwhelmed. But it's still missing diversity in its action that would create lasting appeal.

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

Takes no big chances with the genre's rules--it's strictly stealth-by-numbers that's highly reminiscent of last year's "Splinter Cell"--but it's a well-made and entertaining game all the same.

S.L.A.I.'s fast-paced combat and accessible controls, combined with a lengthy story mode, make it one of the more enjoyable robot-combat games in recent memory.

Popolocrois is a charming adventure for casual fans of role-playing games, but its simplicity negates any lasting appeal it may have had.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified mirrors but never masters. When it gets down to the shallow shooting, it fares well, equipping you with some fun futuristic weapons and letting you go to town on nasty intergalactic intruders. But the game gets in its own way, stumbling when it seeks to siphon strategy mechanics into a formula that doesn't support them.

Overall, the multiplayer package is really strong in Black Ops 7. The movement is fun and fluid, the gunplay is as satisfying as ever, and the map designs greatly improve the experience from last year. Combined with the smaller quality-of-life change and the futuristic themes, and Black Ops 7 feels like a fresh experience that avoids any dreaded fatigue...Ashes of the Damned implements some ambitious ideas for Zombies that largely succeed. The map is massive and refreshingly atmospheric, there are thrilling new enemy encounters, and the traversal elements with Ol' Tessie separate the experience from more traditional maps. Ashes of the Damned excels as a cooperative experience, while Vandorn Farm's survival map offers a fun way to have a solo or more condensed experience. Either way, Black Ops 7 provides enjoyable ways to slay the undead.

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

It's a little rough around the edges, and it doesn't break new ground for 3D platformers, but it gives the series the shot in the arm that Wrath of Cortex failed to, and what it does, it does pretty well.

If you're a baseball fan and the only game console you own is Nintendo's GameCube, then by all means, go out and grab Major League Baseball 2K6. Its portrayal of the sport may not be exciting, but the underlying gameplay is deep and satisfying.

The vibrant world and exciting story of this action game are at odds with its repetitive and frustrating gameplay.

Whereas the console game is bland and broken, the portable game is a lively 3D adventure packed with plenty to see and do.

The game does have its moments, but the racing simply isn't very exciting.

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.

Ultimately a flawed game, but its original premise and varied mix of gameplay create a refreshing experience nonetheless.

It's quite serious about being a simulation-style truck racing game, and in that capacity, it definitely succeeds. Plus, when you take into account its budget pricing, it just makes an already decent product that much better.

What good is a set of tools that frustrates more than it aids creation?

And like any good puzzle game, Dr. Mario's addictive style of gameplay has stood the test of time; the inclusion of wireless networking capability adds even more value.

While the game has a nice look to it and plays just fine, it doesn't really stray too far from the series' original design, and as such it feels like the same thing we've been playing for three years.

Fans of the genre or of the original game would be better off renting this one first, as it doesn't really go too far out of its way to distinguish itself.

This is a game that demands a lot up front but pays off down the road as long as you stay patient when it comes to online homework and in-game experimentation.