The Xbox Live Arcade version of Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe, then, does a solid job of re-creating 1991's game, but falls short almost every time it attempts to improve upon or enhance it.

This isn't the brightest puzzle game you'll ever play, but it's a quality distraction in short bursts.

This adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's classic mysteries ruins great acting and atmosphere with lots of tedious busywork.

All of which amounts to new levels, harder difficulty, and not much else. This is pretty much the template for second expansion packs these days, so Tribes of the East is at least somewhat trendy. Nevertheless, you can't praise this mediocre add-on for fitting in with the cool kids. Nival should have finished the Heroes V series on a higher note than this.

Target Liberty is too short, too tedious, and too absurd to take seriously.

Beautiful Katamari includes few surprises, but it does offer up more of the enchanting gameplay and charming atmosphere the series is known for.

Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis on the Wii feels like some kind of parable for developers porting existing games to the Wii. Even if your game seems tailor-made for the platform and the genre in question has seen previous success there, as was the case with Table Tennis, it's never a sure thing.

It may not be easy doing sneaky dirty work in the Second World War, but it is more entertaining than you'd expect.

True to its title, this fantasy action game will make you furious.

A disaster in just about every imaginable fashion. A few patches may yet round it into some kind of playable shape, but right now this is simply another cookie-cutter RTS loaded with serious bugs and unfulfilled potential.

The PSP puzzler finds a natural home on Nintendo's console, where the Wii Remote finally gives you much-needed tilt control.

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.

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 version of Proving Ground makes it pretty clear that the priority for the Tony Hawk series is not on this platform.

This version of Proving Ground makes it pretty clear that the priority for the Tony Hawk series is not on this platform.

More variety, more customization, and better multiplayer make this the best portable Tony Hawk game yet.

Recycled edutainment and terrible production values make this RTS survey of Roman history stale and simple.

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

For a simple little collection of fun minigames, $20 sounds just about right. If you've enjoyed other games of this ilk, you'll find Flash Focus to be a refreshing alternative.

There's no question that this year's game is better than last year's, but its gameplay is so laden with problems that it's still not worth your time.

There's more to do than ever in NBA 08, but outside of a few good minigames and the fun conquest mode, little of it is worthwhile.

Everyday Shooter is an intensely creative and challenging take on the dual-stick shooter genre.

With three amazing new games and two classics all in one package, it's impossible to go wrong with The Orange Box.

With three amazing new games and two classics all in one package, it's impossible to go wrong with The Orange Box.

Big, crisp graphics and online multiplayer markedly improve Puzzle Quest's oddly hypnotic blend of RPG and puzzle-game conventions.

Team Fortress 2 sets a brilliant stage for its signature brand of class-based multiplayer mayhem.

With delightfully unique gameplay and fantastically witty writing, Portal is a huge success.

The technology behind Sega Rally Revo is undeniably impressive and the driving is a good bit of arcade fun, but the game's staying power is highly questionable.