25 to Life is a lifelessly generic shooter that, at times, feels like "Max Payne" without the fun.

MX vs. ATV Unleashed is a fast-paced and fun-filled arcade racing game, loaded with enough variety of modes and unlockable content to keep you engaged for quite a while.

Mega Man X Collection follows the same basic formula as Capcom's excellent first Mega Man compilation, but it just doesn't have quite as much to offer.

It's highly dubious as a measurable test of your logical mind, but PQ can still be a fun, challenging puzzle game.

Combining Nickelodeon's most popular characters in one game seems like a great idea, but Nicktoons Unite! is too content to be another generic platformer that leans exclusively on its license.

Mega Man X Collection follows the same basic formula as Capcom's excellent first Mega Man compilation, but it just doesn't have quite as much to offer.

Electroplankton is an interesting experiment in both music and game design, but its reliance on the novelty of something different limits its lasting value.

An impressive feat of a fighting game that boasts some excellent, fast-paced action in addition to terrific good looks. Best of all, you can play it online over Xbox Live, virtually guaranteeing you'll find tough, unpredictable competition at any hour.

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

It is most definitely King Kong in the palm of your hand, but the sacrifices and compromises made to get it there ultimately suck away much of its appeal.

This vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up tries to follow in the footsteps of genre classics like Ikaruga and Raiden, putting its own interesting-but-flawed spin on some aspects of the you-against-the-universe formula.

Robotron is one of the games that have fared pretty well in these collections, but with the scoreboards and online competition that the Xbox 360 version of the game provides, this Xbox Live Arcade download is at least as good as the original arcade hit.

Simulation fans will enjoy Formula Front's extremely in-depth mech-customization system, but the steep learning curve and lack of any real action will probably turn off everyone else.

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

The main character of this cleverly designed game gets to swing around using his tongue and inhale grubs and other bugs, but it's a whole lot more pleasant than that.

The gameplay holds up tremendously well on the PSP platform, as does the presentation. But the lack of compelling, differing content makes it a tough sell to those who previously invested $50 in this year's game.

Ultimate Block Party is easy to pick up and play, and once you do, the quick, chaotic puzzle battles will have you hooked.

Whether you play it alone or with friends, this uninspired update to the '80s swords-and-sorcery arcade dungeon crawl misses the mark with its boring, mindless action and short, forgettable quest.

There's a lot of potential here, but many of the games have issues with their graphics, sound, or control that make the entire package a real disappointment.

It may sport a literary pedigree, but 80 Days is little more than a clunky adventure game with a bad sense of humor and lots of bugs.

Final Fantasy IV, arguably the breakthrough entry in the influential series, is a perfect fit for the Game Boy Advance and is a must-play experience for fans of role-playing games.

Whether you play it alone or with friends, this uninspired update to the '80s swords-and-sorcery arcade dungeon crawl misses the mark with its boring, mindless action and short, forgettable quest.

World Championship Poker 2's offline play is the best you'll find amid this year's competition, and the online play is still pretty engaging.

It's functional backgammon on your 360, and not much else. But if you're into the game, that's probably good enough.

Hardwood Hearts is a Hearts game for Hearts fans. If you don't already play Hearts, you aren't likely to get much out of this one.

Hardwood Spades is a Spades game for Spades fans, but even fans of the card game will probably be a little put off by the dull graphics and sound.

Dragon Booster is a halfhearted and practically unplayable racing game with no redeeming qualities.

The worst and most obvious problem with the game is the constant loading. Performing just about any action--going indoors or outdoors, playing a minigame, beginning a conversation with someone, ending a conversation with someone--causes the game to load for a good second or two.