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

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

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

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

It's a second-verse-same-as-the-first stand-alone expansion that adds seafaring jobs but fails to correct any of the issues of the original game.

If evolution worked like it's supposed to, this game would have come out before Pikmin, maybe by about 35,000 years or so. But no, video game evolution works backward, beginning with an intelligent design and ending with countless dim-witted offspring. This is the story of one such far-fallen apple.

With Brothers In Arms DS, Ubisoft has proven that it's technically possible to bring the series to the DS--but just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

The charming visuals may hook you in, but Band of Bugs is too simplistic to be addictive and too frustrating for players looking for a casual strategy fix.

As a graphical showpiece, DiRT is an unbridled success. It also happens to be an entirely enjoyable rally racer.

As a graphical showpiece, DiRT is an unbridled success. It also happens to be an entirely enjoyable rally racer.

Raw Danger's recursive storytelling and enjoyably overblown disaster-movie set pieces are undermined by cheap-looking production and often clumsy, trial-and-error gameplay.

Envision the dullest possible game about giant robots beating one another up, and then find a way to make it even duller. That's Transformers in a nutshell.

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

The DS version of the popular city builder uses the original's foundation and builds a sturdy but cramped game on top of it.

Its individual elements may not be much on their own, but Dungeon Maker: Hunting Grounds' unique combination of gameplay styles is still enjoyable.

This is the definitive version of a modern classic and a must-play, even if you've already experienced the unique thrill of Resident Evil 4 on another platform.

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

B-17: Fortress in the Sky is a simplistic World War II-themed shoot-'em-up that lacks variety and panache.

Puzzle Scape is a passable but conventional puzzle game that tries, and fails, to imitate Lumines' unique sensibilities.

Hot Brain's minigames are pretty good, but because there aren't very many of them, you might not get a lot of replay value.

PQ2 builds on the good foundation of the original and addresses many of its weaknesses, offering a bigger, better puzzle experience.

There's nothing inherently broken with the game, and until it fizzles out at the end the story's not bad, but the gameplay is so contrived and repetitive that it's unlikely anyone will garner much enjoyment from the game.

Every aspect of the game is categorically bad; the story is tough to follow, the graphics are lousy, and the gameplay is so contrived and repetitive that it's unlikely anyone will garner much enjoyment from the game, no matter how low their standards are for being entertained.

There's nothing inherently broken with the game, and until it fizzles out at the end the story's not bad, but the gameplay is so contrived and repetitive that it's unlikely anyone will garner much enjoyment from the game.

Every aspect of the game is categorically bad; the story is tough to follow, the graphics are lousy, and the gameplay is so contrived and repetitive that it's unlikely anyone will garner much enjoyment from the game, no matter how low their standards are for being entertained.

The Nintendo DS rendition of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is a short collection of generic levels that hardly relate to the movie at all.

The amount of content you get for the price is impressive; it's just a shame that the quality of said content isn't better.

Prince of Persia Classic is a fine example of how to modernize an older game while keeping its appeal intact.