Touch Detective has great stylized graphics, interesting-looking characters, a simple interface, and humorous writing, but it all adds up to nothing when the core storyline and gameplay are so lackadaisical.

The additional content added to the original PSP game (including a series of enjoyable bonus challenges) makes it a stronger game on the PlayStation 2, but it doesn't have the feel of a true sequel.

It's playable, mostly, but so uninteresting and bland that it's nearly impossible to think of a reason to.

I think the newfangled next-gen could still stand to learn a few things from the Xbox workhorse -- even if this is the platform's last triple-A title.

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.

If you are going to make combat the central focus of a game, that combat better be, at the bare minimum, on par with other real-time strategy games, and Legends fails miserably in that regard.

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.

Keep your expectations in check and you'll find it succeeds in being a decent facsimile of the PS2 games. Just don't be expecting much in the way of sweaty palms or a rapid heartbeat.

The uninspired combat and backtracking may put you off, but the game's unique story and premise make Contact well worth experiencing.

Culture Shock marks a great (if not perfect) start to what will hopefully be a long run for the pair.

One of the year's best, because it diverts from "GTA's" hyper-violent barrage of social satire and genital jokes to be something more subtle, but equally meaningful. Young people might not appreciate it as much because they're still living it. For that reason, don't buy Bully for your younger relatives. Buy it for yourself.

While it may lack innovation, it makes up for it with narrative effort. Sam Fisher needed a change, and this will suffice. However, it's tough to look at this game and say, "Being on next-gen has allowed this franchise to take itself to the next level." That's just not true.

Hard-core economic simulation players looking for the next spreadsheet to conquer are likely to be disappointed by the game's easy style and shallow economy. Multiplayer fans or just those looking for the model train set they always dreamed of as a kid will definitely get a kick out of Sid Meier's Railroads!

The graphics won't amaze you and you may be under whelmed at the multiplay, but it'll put a smile on your face and give you something to do while you wait for the dude from EB to call to tell you your PS3 pre-order is in.

You'll likely have fun with Justice League Heroes if you enjoy the classic dungeon crawl games that Snowblind has previously developed, and even moreso if you're a fan of comic books and the Justice League of America in particular.

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.

From the roster of PGA pros in here, to the venerable and exciting new courses (Bandon Dunes and the Prince Course at Kauai), there's a lot to get excited about. Perhaps most exciting, however, is the new true aiming system implemented for Tiger Woods 07.

Depending on whether or not you think the game is laughing with you or at you, you're either going to appreciate the joke or feel like one of Pavlov's dogs as you helplessly salivate at each turn of the vending machine crank.

The Sims 2 Pets expansion pack could be a good purchase for PC gamers, but buying it for $39.99 on consoles is the kind of choice that will only satisfy the kind of people who keep a place for their cat at the dinner table.

If you're a hardcore Sims 2 fan and you've greedily gobbled up all the expansions to date, Pets is a great way to give your neighborhood some variety. For players who are just coming into the game fresh, though, the other expansions provide a lot more substance.

Exactly what I expected it to be -- a perfectly mediocre game with a few good jokes and not a whole lot of gameplay.

The game has what it takes to satiate the average RPG fan with an engaging (if not by the numbers) story, fast-paced battles, and entertaining gameplay devices that provide enough to appeal to a broad audience. If nothing else, it's like a vanilla shake: nothing new, but still satisfying.

You'll likely have fun with Justice League Heroes if you enjoy the classic dungeon crawl games that Snowblind has previously developed, and even moreso if you're a fan of comic books and the Justice League of America in particular.

The graphics won't amaze you and you may be under whelmed at the multiplay, but it'll put a smile on your face and give you fond memories of the waning days of the original Xbox.

The Sims 2 Pets expansion pack could be a good purchase for PC gamers, but buying it for $39.99 on consoles is the kind of choice that will only satisfy the kind of people who keep a place for their cat at the dinner table.

There are much better fighters out there to spend your time with.

Despite a lot of roaming and only moderately paced action, GUN Showdown's adventure proves unique enough to be entertaining, and the lightning-quick pace of the plot will keep you running from place to place before you have much of a chance to get bored.

It offers a unique setting and design, but it's severely hampered by a mediocre combat engine.

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.

Despite some smart moves on the part of the developers (voice talent, good graphics engine, franchise overhaul) none of them really pan out and bring much to the experience, leaving the game to flounder with its new but repetitive focus on combat.

It's not exactly a a slick, accessible piece of entertainment, but anyone with decent reflexes and the ability to learn should be able to get deep enough into the system to enjoy what it has to offer -- namely technical, thumb-numbing martial arts action and satisfying, hard-fought victories.

The true joy in Tiger Woods 07 comes in the new difficulty settings and the balance they provide against an otherwise birdie-heavy affair.

As a total package, it's hard to find many cracks in Tiger Woods 07. The game looks just about as good as its PS2 counterpart, has appealing style and presentation, and plays the part of genre-leader with aplomb.

Despite some smart moves on the part of the developers (voice talent, good graphics engine, franchise overhaul) none of them really pan out and bring much to the experience, leaving the game to flounder with its new but repetitive focus on combat.

Is this game head and shoulders above Tiger Woods '06? We'd venture to say yes. The annoying gamebreakers are gone, more flexibility is in, and the gameplay is as tight as ever.

Despite some smart moves on the part of the developers (voice talent, good graphics engine, franchise overhaul) none of them really pan out and bring much to the experience, leaving the game to flounder with its new but repetitive focus on combat.

There are much better fighters out there to spend your time with.

An excellent package that redefines value for a handheld game. It'll probably become a permanent fixture in your DS carrying case, as it has become in mine.

The new races and game balance changes have revitalized the multiplayer game, and the new campaign gives plenty of gameplay for single-player fans to sink their teeth into.

A long-lasting experience that's simply a lot of fun. Part guilty pleasure, part blazingly successful experiment in game design, Scarface: The World is Yours is definitely worth a shot.

Fans of the film may enjoy the idea of building their own criminal empire, but those expecting a fast-paced action experience are in for a rude awakening.

A ridiculously violent, unbelievably profane game that lets you glorify yourself with virtual millions of dollars in hard-earned drug money, fast cars, boats, underlings, women and copious amounts of blood. It's a good feeling.

Despite some minor technical and presentation flaws, an advanced AI and deep focus on one style of poker should not only keep fans interested, but actually help them to improve their real-life poker experience.

This is almost a decent game -- it certainly tries -- and Trekkers looking for an action game could certainly do worse. Avoid beaming in with particularly high expectations and you'll probably get your 15 bucks worth of hot Enterprise vs. Bird of Prey action.

Naruto: Ninja Council 2 isn't an awful game, but it doesn't do anything particularly well, either. It's strictly for the most die-hard fans of the show, and even they may find themselves growing bored with the game after a while.

Some of this is good, some of this is utterly boring, but there sure is a lot to do.

A sizeable leap forward for the series. It's still a few key AI tweaks away from challenging Winning Eleven for the arcade soccer crown, but at least EA's game is back in the conversation.

Exactly what I expected it to be -- a perfectly mediocre game with a few good jokes and not a whole lot of gameplay.

Exactly what I expected it to be -- a perfectly mediocre game with a few good jokes and not a whole lot of gameplay.

In some ways, GTR 2 can be compared to a harsh old sensei. He's hard to please and treats you roughly, but if you pay attention to him and learn his ways, you're sure to become a true karate master. Not everyone will meet his requirements or even want to endure his challenges, but those who do will be rewarded.

Offers too little, too late to make an impact on Xbox 360. The stunt aspects may be worth a rental to check out, but "Saints Row" bullies this game around on all fronts -- giving it a wedgie in graphics, a wet willie in physics, and the ol' lead pipe to the kneecaps in terms of side missions.

The final nail in Mage Knight's coffin is the camera system. It's the most bizarre use of a third-person camera of any game in recent memory.

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

Only for the truly hardcore street racing fans. It's not a good enough racer to attract the wide base of casual videogame race fans, and we can't recommend more than a rental even for the die-hard gearheads.

When you finally master the photon system and can set just the right sealstones and break out the 100 hit combo to make what seemed like a near-impossible battle a relative piece of cake, you will feel good about it. If you enjoy console role-playing games for the gameplay, not the story, you and Silmeria may get along just fine.

Surprisingly combining depth and simplicity, Konami will really have to up the ante on the next one.

Strategy titles are already known for their deliberate pace, which may mean that strategy gamers, with their large reserves of patience, will be better equipped to deal with the load-time interruptions, but the effect is very disruptive to gameplay.

While it has a few things going for it like its pretty look and the fact that it's the only cycle game available for the system, its overall difficulty level and its lack of variety in circuits and gameplay modes drag it down.

It's simple to get into, so the kids can get in on the action, but even skilled players will find something to sink their teeth into here. While some will be drawn to the voice acting and the nods to the series, the fighting is fun enough to keep everyone happy.

A mixed blessing. It's got some fun and elaborate puzzles, although some get a tad too elaborate to manage at once. Also, certain parts of the gameplay mechanic, such as the responsiveness of the touch screen while steering Mini-Marios around, don't function as well as we would have liked.

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.

An excellent basketball game, with more features than you can exhaust in months of play.

Hardcore basketball fans will groan at the old-school gameplay of NBA 07, but it's obvious the game wasn't developed with them in mind. It offers a fun little hoops offering for those who aren't sticklers for detail, and The Life is a nice change of pace for sports games.

Despite some innovative new modes, it's how a game plays that matters most, and it's here where NBA 07 fails to grow. Thus, its appeal has shrunk. Either switch over to "Live 07," or keep your old "NBA 06" UMD close at hand.

The action portions of the game can be fairly called a stripped-down version of the console game, and the strategic Mob Wars mode feels poorly balanced and hinges more on its problematic action sequences than on real strategy.

It's one of the best-looking, most creative 3D action adventures in recent memory, and every PS2 owner out there owes it to themselves to snap up a copy to enjoy immediately. Truly magical stuff.

The game never strays from what captivated audiences more than thirty years ago, and provides a rich experience that gamers simply won't be able to refuse.

Though it may appear that the game is aimed at a young target audience, Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime has it all: a great sense of humor, solid gameplay, awesome tank battles and a charming story.

Regardless of whether it's been done before and arguably done better, the game is reliable and solid fun.

While the inclusion of "Bionic Commando" should perk up the ears of even the most jaded gaming veterans, the inclusion of two games that haven't aged so well isn't enough of a deal to make the game worth dropping 20 bills.

It may confuse some and frustrate others, but its addictive nature should keep you hooked until you learn to appreciate the art of the dungeon crawl.

It may confuse some and frustrate others, but its addictive nature should keep you hooked until you learn to appreciate the art of the dungeon crawl.

It's a brilliant combination of incredibly deep real-time strategy, beautiful presentation and innovative features that make it one of the best gaming experiences of 2006 to date.

Not a bad game, especially when compared to the mediocre A Wonderful Life, but it stays too much within the traditional rules of the series, without trying anything different on the new handheld.

When considered as a game separate from its good ideas, JTF comes up as decidedly mediocre. I'm a believer in deeper and more meaningful games -- just not at the expense of gameplay.

Its kiddy facade hides some terrifically fun gameplay with a lot of meat on its bones.

Its kiddy facade hides some terrifically fun gameplay with a lot of meat on its bones.

Its kiddy facade hides some terrifically fun gameplay with a lot of meat on its bones.

If you think you can weather the barrage of glitches and occasionally having to quit and restart stages, then you'll probably have some fun with LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy. Of course, by buying it, you're also telling LucasArts that it's okay for it to release games that are clearly unfinished.

The game is probably the most faithful interpretation of the series for current consoles. And while the lack of online play is glaring in its absence, the addition of game sharing should help ease the fans' pain.

The game is fairly repetitive, not bothering to bring puzzles or anything non-combat into play at all, but this is the nature of the genre, really.

The level designs are outstanding and take great advantage of all the powers that the Biometals grant. The game is also extremely challenging.

If you can accept that nearly all the engaging moments come from non-interactive movies, and much of what the player is allowed to take part in is more frustrating than terrifying or exciting, it could also be worth playing.

If only the mini-games that you have to constantly play were more alluring.

Even at $30, NHL 07 on the PC is overpriced. It's a budget title, plain and simple, almost exactly like last year's game with a minimal effort to include the new Skill Stick.

Online is where NHL 2K7 possibly does its best work. Players with the know-how to stop "money" one-timers will put your skating and checking skills to the test.

Sadly, the only multiplayer mode included is a downloadable demo you can distribute to your friends -- we would have loved a cooking contest a la Iron Chef, where the highest scoring player across a series of mini-games would win the fame and glory. Still, the mini-games can be fun.

Players with the patience to slug through the interface and the slow parts of the game will discover an overarching story, allowing them to reunite with lost family members and even conquer the whole of the Caribbean under one flag.

Although MechAssault: Phantom War isn't necessarily the worst game to ever pop up on the DS, it's pretty close to the bottom of the pile. The poor controls and bland graphics are a far cry from everything that made the original MechAssault game on the Xbox such a success.

Having unlocked doors relock themselves if you move too far off-screen is kind of lame, and having a platoon of laser-firing stormtroopers materialize out of thin air around your character is really lame.

Its kiddy facade hides some terrifically fun gameplay with a lot of meat on its bones.

If only the mini-games that you have to constantly play were more alluring.

Its kiddy facade hides some terrifically fun gameplay with a lot of meat on its bones.

It's a brilliant-looking game, developed by the artists at Square Enix, and it's great fun to boot. Just be ready for something quite different from the NBA.

A lot of chaos, sloppy gameplay and few laughs. To quote an adage that turns out to be especially apt for videogames: dying is easy; comedy is hard.

Once you get over the initially steep learning curve in handling the cars, you'll find yourself left with a surprisingly deep and entertaining racing experience.

Once you get over the initially steep learning curve in handling the cars, you'll find yourself left with a surprisingly deep and entertaining racing experience.

More of a hassle than a pleasure to play. The glitches, poor controls and shabby visuals leave Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run without much to offer, even if you're an avid fan of the series. It's such a departure from what the series is known for, it could easily be called "Generic Action Game & Car."