After four iterations, FIFA Soccer 08 feels like the first title to live up to the "next-gen" name.

TrackMania 2: Canyon builds on the series' basic but aggressively addictive racing formula without hamstringing its newcomer-friendliness or sacrificing the over-the-top vibe of its zany track designs.Highly recommended for fans of adrenaline racing.

Its depth is certainly daunting... it's only appealing in the long term for those who are willing to devote some time to learning its intricacies.

If you're a fan of "X-Men Legends," then it's safe to say that MUA is right up your alley. If you dig either dungeon crawlers or some of the biggest icons in comics, you'll probably enjoy what Ultimate Alliance has to offer.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 is an impressive new direction for the franchise, as it features a way for players to become directly involved with the other side of professional wrestling: the storylines. Sadly, I've been unable to find a playable match online, thanks to severe latency issues.

With a lengthy quest (about 20 hours), a fun multiplayer mode, and scores of unlockable goodies (including some of the coolest alternate costumes ever), there is a lot to enjoy here. And don't let any talk about rejuvenating the franchise scare you away. This game more than lives up to the Onimusha name.

Despite how oddly compelling I found many of the diversions found herein, I couldn't get too into this game's dated fighting mechanic.

Sure, FireRed and LeafGreen are retreads, but they're stylish retreads.

This reality has its ups and downs: there's nothing new besides graphics, but it was a stellar package to begin with, but the online is super laggy.

Rare is to be commended for the technical prowess on show here, but get it for the co-op and multiplayer experience rather than the diluted story mode.

The addition of the First Touch system makes the gameplay much more fluid, and it encourages you to improvise more often. Armchair managers will love the new career mode, one of the best you'll see this year.

If you're looking for a true sequel, you likely find yourself a bit disappointed -- it's clearly the weakest entry in the series to date.

It's a near-perfect port of a killer game. In fact, I'd go on a limb and say that The Warriors is that console generation's best pure brawler.

It doesn't rise leaps and bounds above its PS2 predecessor, but it adds enough in the way of new controls to keep the gameplay fun.

Despite a few frame rate hitches, and a control scheme that takes a little getting used to, Deus Ex is a very playable, extremely entertaining game.

If you're a fan of action games, then Ninja Gaiden II is an absolute must-have. The gameplay mechanics are phenomenally satisfying, and mastering Ryu's diverse weapon sets can easily entertain you through multiple play-throughs, giving this strictly single-player experience an extended life.

As a relative rookie, I had the most fun playing online against others within my skill level, as Tiger 10's main drawback is that it's too damned hard for series non-veterans.

Leaves its predecessor looking rather simple and boring in comparison. And the online opportunities offered in the new package are some of the most compelling available on any console - at the moment.

It's by no means the end of the Ace Attorney series, but in regard to tying up loose ends and leaving the game's rabid fans happy, it's the best in the series so far.

Sure, FireRed and LeafGreen are retreads, but they're stylish retreads.

If you're looking to play the game, stick with MVP Baseball 2003. If you want to manage a team, go with "World Series Baseball 2K3."

It strikes a near-perfect balance between painstaking realism and flat-out fun.

There's a core game here that could've been very enjoyable had it been paced a little better.

The addition of the First Touch system makes the gameplay much more fluid, and it encourages you to improvise more often. Armchair managers will love the new career mode, one of the best you'll see this year.

The new simulation aspects are a good attempt to make this year's game appeal to every type of hockey fan, but the game still feels like it's caught in transition.

It may end with a slog, but I'd already gotten dozens of hours of rewarding tactical play by that point. Especially with the impressive multiplayer mode, I can strongly recommending Wargame: European Escalation as an expert and innovative blend of the best of the wargame genre with the best of the RTS.

I've had a tremendous amount of fun with Dungeon Defenders. Yes there are some glitches but the team has been working hard to iron out theses bugs on what seems like a bi-daily basis. It's great to see this much dedicated support to a game after launch. It's a charming little-big game that's full of challenging adventures that fans and newcomers to the genre will appreciate.

If you loved the classic OutRun and happened to miss OutRun 2, you definitely need to give Coast 2 Coast a try. It's a prime example of how to update a classic video game for a modern system.

The thing that immediately struck me when playing the game was the amazing amount of minutiae that's been included for eagle-eyed fans.

If you're a monkey baller with previous experience, and need those 46 extra stages, or you're looking for a unique puzzle challenge in-between bouts of Halo 2, then it's time to get down to some business: Monkey Business.

A rare and generous package of new visuals, new gameplay, and absolutely crucial improvements to the core game. If you weren't an Age III fan before Asian Dynasties, get ready to be one now.

This is the over-the-top, pick-up-and-play fighter that's we've been missing for so long. It's far less complex than its top-rated contemporaries, but that's part of the fun.

MLB's fielding model exhibits smooth animations and transitions into secondary animations. Guys throw across their body, take their crow hops, and dig balls out of the dirt. It's all über-realistic looking and complements the pitcher/batter duel perfectly.

The interface is especially straightforward and the game is simple to play yet provides a breath of order and commands for your units.

The new title combines strong platforming fundamentals, Assassin's Creed's open-world structure, and some of Okami's wonderful aesthetic flourishes. What it introduces to action games is something truly wonderful. Since the Prince can't die, the pace and rhythm of gameplay is never lost, yet it still offers a challenge even for hardcore gamers.

If you own a previous version of Knockout Kings, there isn't a whole lot new going on other than the graphics. It is very rough in places and misses a lot of the intricacies sport of boxing, but it is one of those games that keeps you coming back for more.

The joy of F1 2002 is that it can play as realistically or as non-realistically as you like.

You'll even be willing to endure the frustration of restarting the mission just because you want to try another ghost and see if it works better.

While Dave Mirra 2 shouldn't be branded with such terms as "unpleasant" or "ridiculous," it is safe to say that the title repeats the same type of quality as its PSOne ancestor, "unfinished" and "hurried" would be more like it.

Hours of engaging gameplay, a solid story and interface, and refinements all around make this a sequel definitely worth the purchase.

[It's] not going to compete with the likes of Zelda or "Breath of Fire." It does, however, provide a friendly role-playing experience with familiar characters in a setting that is easy to navigate.

There's lots of tension, and brief bursts of action, but completing a mission is not so much dependent on tactics as it is on your teammates having much faster, more "aware", and more accurate aiming AI than the enemy. Thankfully, they do.

It's not as polished or flashy as the NBA equivalent, but for a first effort NFL Street is a damn good time, with better multiplayer than anyone else.

Even with all its flaws, Def Jam Vendetta is the best wrestling game currently on the market.

While it won't be winning any beauty contests with its barebones 2D graphics, the play's the thing and the combination of solid controls and lots of content in the form of the technologies, units and variegated civilizations make Civ Rev an enjoyable and entertaining romp through the traditionally staid and somber realm of nation management.

Pass the bongos back and forth between stages and have a blast drumming Donkey Kong on his journey.

It's based on excellent gameplay mechanics that are taken in really interesting directions through gimmick courts. Mastering each player will take dozens and dozens of hours. Multiplayer games are a total riot.

Age of Conan going forward should become a delightfully savage second home for plenty of howling on-line barbarians.

Gods & Kings is Civilization V with a few new things to do, and a lot of new civs and units. Does that disappoint you, or excite you? Then you have your review.

Dragon Quest IV offers a classic RPG experience that you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

The multiplayer additions elevate the expansion to a must-own. Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs has managed to re-invent and reinvigorate the game. I'm sorry guys. I'll never doubt you again.

Providing solid gameplay throughout the duration of the game and the incredibly fun online modes, Ace Combat 6 ups the ante and more than makes up for the minor failings of previous versions.

In almost every way, this is a very good PC version, and definitely superior to the console versions. We got great graphics options (including that HD texture pack!), smooth performance, and customizable keys. It's also quite stable -- in almost 25 hours of play I hit exactly two crashes to desktop, and neither cost me any progress. If not for the irritating lack of consistently clickable menus Sleeping Dogs would be hard to complain about.

Bully is a game that transcends the technical limitations of its programming, achieving despite its flaws in ways that few games have dared to try.

While the changes that have been made are pretty major, they were all implemented to enhance the experience, and it's definitely become a much more enjoyable game because of them.

Fans of unbridled reaving, adventuring, and general vampiring through time and dimensions will love the game, despite its technical shortcomings.

Does your fighting game have to have serviceable online play? If not, you got yourself a winner here.

At the very least, a 72-hole tournament -- the mainstay of PGA Golf -- should have been part of the package.

A decisive step backwards from the combat dynamics of Operation Flashpoint and the team command structure of SWAT 3.

A truly mediocre strategy game with a lackluster campaign.

Fails to live up to the standards set by the first game. It's not that it's more-of-the-same, which would have been OK, but Syberia II takes characters and a storyline that were deep and compelling the first time around and turns them into cardboard caricatures of their former selves.

The only complaint I have about EvS is that your health, armor, and arsenal don't carry over into the next mission.

Isn't just a game, it's an experience you'll never forget, and the inclusion of the Shenmue: The Movie DVD makes it that much easier to get on board.

It's a game that you can pick up and play for 20 minutes, or keep hammering on for several hours at a time. Everything is simple to pick up and once mastered, very little can stand in your way.

The awesome character designs by Japanese artist Mitsuru Nakamura (who is primarily known as simply "326") certainly add to the game's appeal.

More than worth the time invested -- annoying interface and all. There's simply so much stuff to play with, so many maps to battle over, strategy to ponder, and campaigns to fight that the game's defects are simply unfortunate blemishes on what should be the start of a new turn-based strategy powerhouse franchise.

The Superstar mode alone is almost worth the price of admission, although we wouldn't mind seeing it fleshed out just a bit more before next year's game.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 is an impressive new direction for the franchise, as it features a way for players to become directly involved with the other side of professional wrestling: the storylines. Sadly, I've been unable to find a playable match online, thanks to severe latency issues.

They've packed Sam and Max's world with so many great characters, locations, running gags and plot points that they seem to feel like they have to cram them all into every episode.

The production values in Final Fantasy Tactics A2 are top-notch and Square Enix has really punched up the graphics and sound.

As a relative rookie, I had the most fun playing online against others within my skill level, as Tiger 10's main drawback is that it's too damned hard for series non-veterans.

It's definitely a solid title that offers fine gameplay and excellent replay value, but outside of the online play -- which is pretty barebones -- it isn't too much of an advancement over its predecessor.

An improved story, questing system, and plenty to do means that if you were a fan of the original and are in need of some good hacking and slashing, you should pick this one up.

One of the best-made games you can get on your PSP, far better than a simple port of an arcade game, yet hindered quite significantly by the handheld's design flaws.

It's the best in the series so far and a harbinger of great things to come. Honest.

Ultimately, this isn't just a great zombie game. It's a great open-world game, a great action game, a great RPG, and a great co-operative multiplayer game. Being a masterpiece with a unique appreciation for zombies is just gravy.

Since just about every trail is unlocked from the beginning, you won't get to feel the satisfaction of making your way to a new mountain (one of the best parts of "SSX 3") and exploring it for the first time. Still, there's no denying that this is yet another stellar entry one of the most consistently excellent series around today.

A must-play for anyone looking for a fun, intelligent action/adventure game. Is it as great as its forebear? I'll say no. That said, Invisible War is still an excellent sequel to Deus Ex, which, while lacking its scope, smooths over many of its roughest edges and provides a decent conclusion to the current story arc. [Note: GameSpy's revised 5-Star conversion scale - see site]

A solid action game made worthwhile by moments of inspiration which do a lot to eclipse some rough edges and a host of minor gameplay gaffes.

As simple as these games sound, you'll likely break a sweat trying to wipe the screen clean in "Wishi Washi" or keep up with the Samba de Amigo-esque "Beat Freak."

The latest -- and probably last -- expansion pack for The Sims, Makin' Magic, is easily the most fun of the seven.

While Spider-Man 2 has some issues, nearly everything is outweighed by the fantastic web-slinging and the huge city environment.

It's pretty irritating to play a sequel and face so many of the issues of the original, but Bloodshot's ability to take you into the terrifying world Monolith has crafted is astonishing.

I've been reviewing PC games since 1999 and playing them since the late 1980s, and this is the first time I've had to jump through this many hoops to get a single game going.

With both of the previous games and bonus content, it's a great value and it'll provide hours of entertainment. LSW veterans, however, might not want to dive in so soon, however, as you've played most of this game already.

There were many times when I wanted to just quit and never play it again. Don't get me wrong, it's not a horrible game; it's just nowhere near as polished as [both "Medal of Honor: Allied Assault" and "Call of Duty"].

Most of the mini-games are surprisingly skill-based, and even Wii Sports haters should find something to enjoy. I definitely did.

Despite the fact that Madden still has its warts and its share of oddball design decisions, this is the best version of Madden in years -- and the PC showcases it more than any other platform.

As shocking as it may sound, the combat in the GBA version of TMNT is even deeper than it is in any of the other versions. On the surface, it's a mash-the-attack-button affair, but after a few minutes of play I began to see little contextual nuances that provided a wealth of variety.

Where development did put in the time was in coming up with a logical and intuitive new controller scheme that lets you showcase all the moves that Street vets expect from the game.

If you enjoy your stories ripping and your RTSs simple but smart, Codename: Panzers Phase Two is probably for you.

The interface works a whole lot better on the PC, and if your machine is up to running it all maxed out, then it will look that much cleaner. All this aside, however, the game itself is intense and utterly engrossing.

The display method the game uses looks bad and the extras are a bit underwhelming. It's a good collection, but those shortcomings bring it down a bit.

The ability to download existing leagues, cups and tournaments from the console game to the PSP is a fine addition to the core gameplay, which is fundamentally the same as in the last two games.

The brisk card battles provide a frantic element few RPGs can claim, and the visuals hold up their end of the bargain. But a huge reliance on luck, some quirky gameplay issues, and a ho-hum plot saddled with atrocious voice acting holds this one down like a pair of concrete shoes.

It's really only its brevity and restrictive save game system that keeps this game from fighting its way to the top of the genre.

Constant fun, whether in small doses or extended sessions.

An immensely satisfying arcade football game, with huge offense and serious points going to the unbeatable multiplayer component.