If you're the type of player who just wants to play the nicest looking football game in history, buying Madden NFL 06 is a no-brainer.

Our initial criticisms on the sameness of combat that led to an overall feeling of tediousness have not been completely eradicated, however, as there is still very little variation in the enemies you face, but the improvements to the framerate certainly make the combos and counters a lot easier to perform.

A capable arcade racer crammed with goodies … and a perfect cure for anyone suffering post-"Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4" doldrums.

Ultimately, if you have plenty of time to sink into it and enjoy building characters as much as uncovering storyline, this is one of the best games available today.

I was totally engrossed with challenge mode and had lots of fun with the mini-games. The core gameplay, which is quite good, is overflowing with that inimitable Mario charm. The gameplay, characters, and fields more than make up for any defects in the A.I.

A solid racer with a few minor game balance problems. If you're able to get over them -- which isn't hard -- you'll be looking at a good online and offline kart-style game slammed with the good stuff from the Jak & Daxter universe.

Tripwire can take a lot of pride in Red Orchestra: Ostfront, a game for history buffs and FPS aficionados and, more importantly, a shooter for adults.

While Abyss may not be an all-time classic, its charming characters and exciting battles more than make up for its little problems here and there.

It's an enjoyable run through the world of demon slaying. It's significantly more fulfilling than the disappointing "DMC2" even if it's not quite the leap forward that "DMC3" was (or at least, the rebalanced Special Edition was).

The PlayStation 3 version is feature complete by comparison, but it doesn't run at the silky smooth frame rate of the 360 version. It's a no-brainer decision if you own both systems, but early adopters of the PlayStation 3 should still have a good time with this one.

TOSE has done a topnotch job of proving it's possible to create a licensed game perfectly playable by children and adults alike without insulting the intelligence of either, one of the highest compliments that can be laid on games with such a shameful expectation attached.

Although switching characters every few missions took away from my enjoyment of the game, I found experiencing combat in different locales to be very entertaining.

Sure, it's more than a little familiar at times -- and on more than one occasion I said, "I remember that from game X," -- but Darksiders is proof that what's old can truly be made new again.

The lack of characters combined with the relative lack of gameplay modes makes the overall package seem a bit shallow, as if the inevitable sequel will feature more content. Even so, Burst Limit is a quality fighting game. Non-fans will be lost within the convoluted confines of the Z Chronicles, but the improved battle engine can't be denied.

It's fun, it looks good, it has a solid set of multiplayer options, while also bringing some new features to the series. Though the series has been getting stale, Ace Combat X does a great job of reminding us of what it can be.

While the single-player game is worth playing through, you should play Frontlines: Fuel of War because it brings to bear the best of what made the Battlefield series so popular. Big maps, plenty of weaponry, and many different ways to approach combat make this a solid choice for multiplayer enthusiasts.

Multiplayer options notwithstanding, Knights of Honor is a triumph of play balance, attention to detail, and a wealth of elements coming together to present a challenging and authentic-feeling simulation of medieval politics.

The historical accuracy of Crusader Kings II leaves a little bit to be desired, and the restriction of only being able to play Christian dynasties is frustrating given the dynamism of the Middle East in that era. Yet when actually playing the game, there's always something to keep me motivated to keep going. There's always a plot that can be instigated, or a war with victory just out of reach, or an heir to find a suitable wife for. That's what makes a great strategy game, albeit one that tantalizingly feels like it could be even greater if it'd cut out some of the barriers to entry.

Suffice it to say that I was completely captivated by this game from start to finish. Of course, it helps that I'm a fan of the JRPG genre.

For shooter fans, the combat is still outstanding, and you'll get a great eight hours or so by the time you reach your final encounter with Alma, although fans of the first game may feel like they've done this before. In many ways, F.E.A.R. 2 feels like the middle chapter in a trilogy, and there's certainly enough momentum here for at least one more run.

It took me just under 8 hours to complete 90% of the game, and it's not a terrible stretch to imagine someone rushing through it in 5 or 6. It's a good sign for a game when players want more, and it's further proof that the Tomb Raider series is back in a big way.

A unique vision, a mix of NES gameplay and cutting edge graphics, with some great multiplayer to boot. Pick it up to see what happens when one of the industry's biggest companies actually takes one of those "risks" we keep asking for.

Although it doesn't quite match the lofty excellence of the original Deus Ex, it's a much better game than Invisible War and a welcome rebirth for a brand that many – including me – thought was long past its prime. Not quite a classic, but definitely worth your money and time.

A few frustrating moments spoil the fun here and there, but overall Black Hawk Down is an entertaining shooter and an encouraging step forward for the Delta Force series.

Hopefully, some day in the future, id will see fit to give gamers a more robust multiplayer experience worthy of the DOOM name. Until then, the single-player campaign is still strong enough to carry the title and provide action junkies more than enough to satisfy their itchy trigger fingers.

The Takeover packs just about everything a fighting-game fan could ask for into a nice, compact little package. And while the game's long load times and lack of online play leave an unsightly bruise, the smooth controls, great presentation and sheer magnitude of content are more than enough to make up for it.

A game best enjoyed by those who've never come to it before.

The animal changes are more than a simple gimmick, but it alone cannot provide the level of depth BR3 needs if it wants to be a real contender.

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 they want to ensure that they'll stay on top for good, they'll need to fix the analog swing system and work hard on cutting down on the frequent load times.

Diehards will love the reduced emphasis on checking, while more casual fans should enjoy the new skill stick moves and the ability to place your shot wherever you please. Best of all, every rule change has made it into the game.

The graphics and sounds are so well done you can almost taste the dust!

It's a shame that there aren't as many games on this compilation as there were on the Anniversary Collection ("Mega Man Soccer" really should've been included), but you're still getting some fun games (expect, of course, "Mega Man X6").

The combination of gunplay and street fighting is something that has never been attempted before, and Bungie pulled it off beautifully.

My only serious complaint is that the music utterly sucks in every way and is an affront to mankind that should be excised from the universe by the vengeful spirits of J.S. Bach, Duke Ellington and Hank Williams.

The best game of its kind I've played. If nothing else, it definitely takes careful measures to ease in new players (meaning the non-Defense of the Ancients elite).

The graphics are crisp and well defined, with everything remaining faithful to the source material. John Williams' scoring is simply some of the best orchestral work ever, and all of the signature Star Wars sound effects remain as amazing and unique as ever.

Strong, challenging puzzles, a perfect hint system, and an intriguing story makes Keepsake one of the better adventure games to come out in a while.

Irrational deserves kudos for recapturing the core "Tribes feel" that fans know and love: the high-flying, jetpack-powered combat is still as much a blast as it ever was.

The biggest drawback of this game is the inclusion of Venom as a playable character. He draaaags. He can't web swing (but he can cover vast distances with his leaps), he relies on brute strength rather than finesse, and you must also devour people in order to keep the suit from killing the man inside.

Even by GBA standards, Final Fantasy I and II are primitive RPGs. However, if you can overlook their simple graphics and cliché-driven stories, the gameplay holds up remarkably well.

One of the better platform games that I've played in some time. You may get though it without a ton of effort, but you'll have a heck of a time doing it.

In my opinion, "Major League Baseball 2K5" is the better game. It's a close one, to be sure -- as each area that one game has a weakness in is a strength for the other title -- but I enjoyed the pitching and batting in MLB more, and fielding, one of its weak points, isn't as big of a deal to me.

Incredibly addictive. You're constantly thinking of new ways to design a hole, new tricks to throw at the golfers, and new adjustments to increase the sims' enjoyment and challenge.

It could've been called "EndCrisis" or "TimeGame," but there's still enough of a difference to warrant interest from light-gun gamers.

If you go in with the idea that Bloodlines is a hybrid FPS / RPG, you're going to be dramatically disappointed. On the other hand, if you're looking for one of the best role-playing game experiences of this year, then you should really look into Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines.

Wii Fit won't replace your favorite videogames, but it may become an activity you'll want to do for a few minutes in the morning before school or work.

A vast improvement from recent Total War missteps, and revitalizes the glory of the original Shogun, while adding so much new and interesting content that you might not even remember said original. And this one, finally, does right by newcomers, making things as easy and as polished as a game of StarCraft II.

Luckily, action sequences have been tightened up considerably from the first episode, with interactive points actually on the object in question and not somewhere nearby. And there are just enough quick-time events to keep you on your toes, though they are less frequent than before. The focus is on the slow burn of a terrible, desperate situation; the realization that no matter how many obvious monsters you've sheltered yourself from, a worse one might be standing right next to you.

NBA Live 07's gameplay itself is right up there with its console siblings -- and even better in some respects (one shoot button). I'm still going with the NBA 2K series on consoles, but I think I've found my new favorite portable hoops title.

The established Lego game design wasn't broken, but, after so many games, it was beginning to get a bit stale. Those used to the previous titles might feel a bit disoriented at first, but you'll soon settle in and begin having fun exploring the large hubs and condensed levels.

It will alternately excite and frustrate you, but for the time being, there is no better baseball experience on the PS2.

After playing PJS to completion -- about three hours, altogether -- I feel like I've completed half of an awesome puzzle game.

A game that has a refreshing story, a wonderfully unique leading man, great voice acting, good graphics, good music, and a mediocre combat system.

Unarguably, however, the most significant change has been the increase in the level cap. Players who were once sitting comfortably at 50 (the old level cap) are now looking forward to a lengthy, laborious grind.

The lack of a real multiplayer mode is a huge disappointment to us. What makes this omission even worse is how short the single-player campaign is.

The best reason to pick up this game isn't in the extra content that it delivers over 2K6, which was itself a feature-rich game, but instead in that your money will be well spent on what is a much better looking and playing version of baseball than what was presented last year.

If you're looking for a fun party game for PS2 and you haven't made the leap to HD, Buzz! The Mega Quiz is a great time-waster for you and your friends.

One of the nicer new features are challenges, mini-goals within an existing scenario that you can choose to do if you'd like.

It's so faithful to the PS2 version that it's almost terrifying. On second thought, the terror comes from the load times, which are abysmally long. Between that, the sync issues in multiplayer, and the mediocre Arcade Mode, keep this game from nearing perfection.

Despite these issues, all the elements are in place for Brink to become a terrific multiplayer shooter. It handles well, offers customization options galore, and challenges FPS players to do more than just pull the trigger.

In terms of sheer strategic depth, there's not a city-builder out there that can match it.

It's rough around the edges in some spots, and can become infuriatingly difficult at times, but if you stick with it, you'll probably get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

DiRT 2 is extraordinary sensory overload. It's gorgeous, it's thoroughly addictive, it mends past problems, and it's fun. Really fun. But it won't please all the realists out there, and it may not feel quite so perfect over the long haul. At $60, maybe it should have.

Mercenaries 2 is a lot of fun if you don't get bogged down by its rough-hewn minutiae and relish the simple pleasures of blowing things up.

The fighting is hard-hitting, intuitive, and satisfying, and the story-mode is well-developed enough to give it long-term legs despite it's lack of an online multiplayer component. On top of that, the manner to which the hip hop element has been realized is really impressive.

A very worthy sequel. It doesn't change any of the fundamental aspects of the original's gameplay; it just builds on them and gives you a helluva lot more bang for your buck. And considering that those who saw the original's unrealized potential forgave its imperfections, that's exactly what it had to do.

It's well worth your time to play through, if only for the motorcycle and gun turret scenes, and some of the more freakish weirdoes to cull later in your romp.

THQ, Team 17 and Two Tribes have not only turned out the best Worms game of all time, but a title that stands on its own as a truly excellent piece of DS software.

The one major area where European Assault fails to deliver is on the multiplayer side of things. While there are plenty of cool gametypes, from old standards like Deathmatch to some interesting objective-based games, the only way you can play with friends is on a single TV.

May not break new ground, but it offers a superb sense of flow and pacing, exciting combat, and a treasure trove of weapons and gadgets. That's a formula for fun.

If you are from the era when Falco was considered cool and "Return of the Jedi" had just been released, then I heartily recommend this game to you.

Okami fans will be spellbound with nostalgia while finding plenty new to enjoy, and fans of Zelda-esque adventures will be hard pressed to find another portable game so engaging in the twilight of Nintendo's soon-to-be replaced Nintendo DS hardware.

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.

As the name would imply, Pure wins because it sticks with only the most important facets of ATV racing: crazy handling and absurd, gravity-defying stunts. Its stellar visuals (exemplified by the glittering glacier track set in New Zealand) are simply icing on a cake of solid gameplay that rarely falters in providing the basic racing game essentials.

Sure, the wonder of experiencing Rapture for the first time is gone, and yes, the engine is really starting to show its age, but the most important element -- BioShock 2's narrative -- lives up to its heritage.

The new DS-centric controls add a lot to the formula, though some other cool new features, such as forensic videos, are too sparsely used.

A deep Dynasty Mode and some cool new gameplay additions ensure that you'll be playing the game for months to come, and while we can't say yet if the game will be able to gain ground on its biggest rival, we can say this: NBA Live 2005 is the best EA Sports basketball game ever.

Despite these issues, all the elements are in place for Brink to become a terrific multiplayer shooter. It handles well, offers customization options galore, and challenges FPS players to do more than just pull the trigger.

Everyone who enjoys video games owes it to themselves to try these titles at least once. If, however, you enjoy arcade reflex contests where you play for high scores, this will be perfect for you.

While it's still shy of perfect, Round 2 is an outstanding title and clearly the best boxing game ever made.

Despite these issues, all the elements are in place for Brink to become a terrific multiplayer shooter. It handles well, offers customization options galore, and challenges FPS players to do more than just pull the trigger.

Dear Esther, however, presents something truly different. It's an experiment to be sure -- and one that's not entirely successful -- but it hits far more often than it misses. It's a strong start to a new breed of adventure that asks players to think instead of clicking on items until something arbitrarily happens.

Speaking of graphics, Virtua Tennis: World Tour looks almost identical to "Sega Sports Tennis" on PS2 -- which is a compliment.

It has enough to keep any committed racing fan coming back for a good couple of months.

I like 'em fast and furious, not fast and frustrating. That being said, I fell in love with GT Advance 2 almost from the very beginning.

Battlefield Premium members have access to Armored Kill right now, and everyone else who's interested will be able to buy it for $15 on September 25th. If you're still playing Battlefield 3, or burnt out from claustrophobia or lack of tanks, I suggest that you do.

Building a thriving economy from scratch is immensely satisfying, and it'll take several games to really master the nuances of the elegant ruleset. Colonization might not appeal to everyone, but it'll definitely hit a sweet spot for many strategy fans.

I'm very pleased with how TBfM-eII on the 360 turned out, and while it does have some issues, it's a shining example of how persistence and well-constructed game design can bring a classic genre of games to the unlikely console platform in true style.

The multiplayer is so smooth, so challenging, and so much plain-old-fun that I can only think of one RTS I ever played that is outright better. The single-player is weaker, in many ways, than that of other RTS titles -- but hey, you don't have to play it, after all. And so, the line you've all been waiting for: Yes, Blizzard has indeed done it again.

The game's saving graces are its graphics and well-balanced races, and if you crave long backbreaking campaigns, you'll find plenty to keep you occupied here, but it's too bad that Black Hole couldn't have fleshed out the game's embryonic innovations to deliver something more daring and less imitative.

The accessible nature of Borderlands -- with its relatively non-punitive deaths, constant checkpoints, and convenient fast-travel systems -- makes it a fantastic game for introducing FPS fans to some basic RPG tropes. And, most importantly, the killing and looting never ceases to be fun.

If you're a baseball fan, you'll love the attention to detail in this game.

It makes fun of itself relentlessly, yet still manages to be earnest when it matters, and the gameplay around which it's built takes the best elements of the Mario games' trademark simplicity, and constructs out of them a compelling, engrossing RPG.

Sure, Order of the Phoenix is a little rough around the edges, but it's still the best Harry Potter game yet. Fans will get a huge kick over how well it recreates Harry's world.

It's not earth-shaking entertainment, but you'll have a damn good time.

It has a few shortcomings, but the gameplay is smart and challenging. Down in Flames is also conveniently easy to jump into and out of when you want a quick bit of fun. Then again, it's so addictive that you'll probably be playing for a good, long time.

Even with the lack of balance between staying pure and choosing the filthy coward's route of Corruption, Chaos Rising is another great addition to Relic's library of RTS games.