Dancing and singing simply takes too much coordination, and the steps aren't timed well enough with the music to make them feel as natural as they should've.

Tack on the extravagant multiplayer mode, and you have one of the best original side-scrollers to come along in a while. If you can cope with the backtracking, you'll have a blast.

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.

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

A smorgasbord of rock 'em, sock 'em vehicular insanity that, while not without its quirks, will at least temporarily addict anyone with a pulse.

Not only the best PS2 dirt racer to ever turn a wheel, it's also the finest game of its type on any platform -- console or PC.

PopTop steams onto the scene with a product that's nearly everything a strategy game needs to be: easy to pick up and play, but deep enough to engross players for hours and months on end.

It's even the kind of game that you can put down for a month, pick back up, and it feels new all over again. However, it's unlikely to inspire extended gameplay; once you've beaten it, there really isn't much to keep you playing.

Little extras like item invention, a multiplayer arena, and Battle Trophies round out the package nicely, and keep things fresh.

It's a "one night stand" of a game, pretty but not perfect, a nice way to kill some time, and it's good for the duration as long as you don't think too hard about it.

This time around, you'll play MGA 2 not for the name on the box, but for the content inside -- and you'll leave much happier.

Shrinks the field, boosts the action and scoring, and its multiplay makes for a party that's even more fun than passing around pitchers in a sports bar at seven in the morning.

Even with its niggling control issues, Otogi is a beautiful and entertaining action romp.

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

It's -- in all likelihood -- the most stylish thing ever to prominently feature janitors, but it definitely doesn't lack in substance. So move over, rotund Italian plumbers of the world. There's a new blue-collar hop 'n' bop hero on the block.

A game that is equal parts extreme sports action and surreal soap opera, an improvement that should keep it at the top of the wrestling game into the next decade.

I can think of very few games that I could play for the next 10 years (or until I get eaten by that monster in the woods) and never run out different ways to play and different strategies to explore. Empire Earth II is one of those games.

Still, there's a huge gulf between disappointment and betrayal, and I did ultimately enjoy Absolution for what it is -- a game that still carries the torch of the Hitman series, but chooses to carry it down much less interesting roads.

TDU is all about driving fast in expensive cars through gorgeous locales and that's exactly what it delivers. It's not a sim, so don't expect GTR2-level realism.

The main problem though, is that this game was made as a single player experience and cramming a two player mode into it feels awkward. The stages and balance just aren't designed for multiple players.

Such a terrific experience, reminiscent of the roleplaying games of old, that hours upon hours would pass with no knowledge of the passage of time.

Other M is a sum of imperfect parts and compromised ideas.

While the large ship selection is a fun idea, it's no substitute for the essential elements of good level design, consistent game speed, gameplay originality and a smokin' soundtrack.

Awesome environments, cool characters, and great weaponry, but there just isn't enough!

It's a shame, then, that vehicle handling feels so clunky and awkward, since it's such an integral part of the experience. It's also quite possible that the tutorial and construction will be too complicated and frustrating for younger gamers. Those are two major issues, but if you can look beyond them, there's fun to be found in Nuts & Bolts.

It's trying something completely different, and even when it doesn't work, it's true to its license and it's making bold choices. There's a lot to be said for this approach.

It's a little thin on game modes, but the career mode is a kick, as is going head-to-head against a buddy or two. There are far worse ways to spend your summer.

Even with the flaws in Scribblenauts' controls and the level editor -- which only allows you to make levels for use on your own card, and not share them with others -- it holds a special place in my heart for being the most fun I've ever had improving my vocabulary. It is, dare I say, the best piece of edutainment since Math Blaster.

There's a definite lack of polish and far too many bugs, even a couple of patches and a month after its release.

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.

1701 A.D. seems to have struck a nice balance between strategic depth and user friendliness. The game's challenging mix of building management and trading presents a truly enjoyable challenge.

A solid game that offers a little more variety than the first with equally amazing graphics, but doesn't do much to improve upon the first game or address its problems.

Features not only an interesting setting inspired by a classic novel, but also puzzles that really tie into the game world and make good sense.

A decent title. It'll never be one of those "stranded on a desert island" games, but it certainly has replay value and is well worth a look.

Overall I enjoyed the game, though the campaign is a bit lackluster and the game doesn't offer anything new to the RTS scene.

But for all these minor changes, Kohan still feels like the same game. Perhaps worst of all is the fact that the multiplayer community is now effectively split in two. Ahriman's Gift won't work with the original game.

While it's not quite as strong as its current-gen iterations, NCAA Football 07 is a great next-gen kickoff for one of our favorite sports series. The developers nailed the feeling of being in the middle of a rockin' stadium on game day, and the game looks as good as anything we've played on the Xbox 360. The online play is a bit disappointing.

The collection feels incomplete without Ms. Pac Man, the only Pac sequel truly worth playing.

I have major complaints regarding the game’s interface. Although it might be made with simplicity in mind, it lacks the functionality required for guys that spend a lot of time in the roster screens and stat screens...[yet] a refreshing, but incredibly fun and exciting football game.

A no-brainer for hockey fans. The gameplay is completely customizable, the controls are tight, and the franchise mode is fairly deep.

An excellent choice for someone who enjoys the genre. If only High Voltage and Interplay had paid due respect to the source material.

Between this and MM9, it's clear that Capcom's cybernetic mascot's still got some kick. I don't know about you, but I could do with annual 8-bit meat-grinders from now until 20XX.

Thanks to one of the best storylines we've seen in quite a while (as well as a heaping helping of good old-fashioned violence), Gun isn't a gaming experience that we'll soon forget.

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

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.

I'm bummed that the game is much more menu-driven; I really am. However, it's still an amazing racing title.

Tropico 3 is an enjoyable city simulator that offers the same sort of replayability that others of its kind do; this one just emphasizes experimentation with moral behavior rather than perfecting a building grid. Outside of the refined graphics and Latin soundtrack, it doesn't reach too far beyond the original Tropico. But that's fine with me, as it was the best of its kind since the original SimCity.

The gameplay is spot-on.

Quirky, innovative and charming, La Pucelle: Tactics is at once one of the best tactics games out there, as well as one of the best RPGs.

It's a new Monkey Island game. Play it if you dig the series, play it if you dig Telltale's other stuff, and play it if you dig adventure games in general. And if you're still saying this genre's dead here and now in 2009, you're just plain wrong. And you probably fight like a dairy farmer.

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.

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.

All the PS2 will get you is some interface problems, a lack of anyone to play with online, and maybe a headache from the abundance of flickering text in the game's many high-resolution screens.

Over a hundred and fifty new objects, new interactions and actions, and a tongue-in-cheek look into the world of entertainment make The Sims: Superstar the best expansion yet.

Improved graphics, a deeper dynasty mode, and an All-Star weekend simulator that's genuinely fun to play.

It's not as phenomenal as "SSX 3" on consoles, but for a handheld, it certainly beats the crap out of "SSX 3" on Game Boy Advance.

So, for those wondering if it's worth their time, Street Fighter Alpha Anthology is a great game that compiles all of the super-popular Alpha games from the PlayStation era.

Being able to dominate players with Shaq or throw cross-court, no-look passes with Tony Parker is a wonderful addition, and it actually makes you feel like you're playing the game with real NBA players, not just a bunch of identical players.

Virtua Tennis 3 is fine fun for even the uninitiated. Not only did I have a good time playing through the cornucopia of kooky minigames, but I also came out with a firmer knowledge and appreciation for tennis itself.

Good graphics, fun gameplay and acceptable control make the Xbox version of Spider-Man an excellent game for Spider-Man and 3D platform fans alike.

An extremely solidly-made, quality game, but lots of what gamers love about Castlevania has been jettisoned in an attempt to streamline it. The result is a very playable but somewhat dull game.

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

There's not enough new content to justify re-buying Creed if you own it on a console, but the PC-exclusive content is a nice touch -- as are DX9 and DX10 support, and an overall solid technical quality to the port.

It may not be the prettiest game to look at, but in its third year of being the exclusive holder of the NASCAR license, EA Sports and Tiburon refuse to rest on past successes.

Apart from the poor dialogue, Dissidia is a largely enjoyable game, although its attempt at shoehorning in a wide variety of RPG elements (including the mystifying ability to create equippable items by performing certain combos in battle) to an otherwise action-oriented fighting game ends up being confusing.

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.

I just can't get over how cheap a lot of the game feels. Whether it's the dated looks, its frustratingly difficult latter portion, or its awkward storytelling, Prototype often feels like a budget title that unfortunately doesn't have a budget price.

Dead Rising 2's replayability is a testament to the fully realized burg that is Fortune City. I want to meet more nutjob Psychopaths; I want to try more games of chance scattered around the casinos; I want to spend an afternoon shirking my in-game responsibilities to create new tools of destruction with my hard-earned Combo Cards.

Utterly clever, entertaining, and action-packed, Giants is an absorbing romp through the lives of well-rounded comedic entities on a weird alien land.

Chinese chess on steroids.

Another innovation with questionable value is the onscreen confidence meter. A cool idea to make the game seem more realistic, it just doesn't seem to work all that well.

Its simple, yet challenging gameplay will last a long time.

Though some may be disappointed by the linear gameplay, most will take comfort in the fact that the scripting is well done and helps make for a well-crafted experience.

For most people, the Music Generator will provide much more creative fun than they expected out of a console.

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.

"SmackDown" still has the superior career mode and looks a bit better for its capabilities, but Day of Reckoning owns in terms of gameplay and multiplayer. Just don't ask if it beats out my old favorite, "WWF No Mercy" on N64; that's just too close to call.

If you're looking for a brutal campaign requiring every ounce of military strategy and luck, one that requires you to throw your best general right into the thick of things while laying waste to everything you touch, you might want to give Rome: Total War -- Alexander a whirl.

A great compilation of two fantastic games made even better with online multiplayer. Toss in a bargain price tag and fighting fans get one heck of a deal.

The multiplayer mode is the key, though. Without that, there isn't much here for a single player to enjoy. Playing against bots is okay, and the survival and (quite clever) soccer game are fun diversions, but nothing beats running around a map full of 32 real players.

It's a bit shorter than Episode 1 (mostly due to slightly easier puzzles), but the script is much sharper and funnier this time around, which makes it a more than adequate trade-off. Telltale Games is finally hitting its stride with this series and we couldn't be happier.

I would like Jumpgate a LOT more if you had an autopilot, even if you had to buy it as a component...But the game itself is solid and has enormous potential.

A title with solid gameplay that's perfectly suited for the online world.

Combined with the budget presentation all around, Day of Defeat feels like a bit of letdown in the end.

It looks a little better, but underneath the new trappings lies the same old game.

It's no ProTools, but for what amounts to Remix: The Game, the package is quite acceptable.

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

What's really nice to see in this installment is that Telltale finally seems to have gotten their groove on with the game's length and puzzle structure.

An incredible technical achievement, and easily the GBA's best retro-collection. If you have even the slightest fondness for the Atari Age, or if you want to begin your game-history self-education in earnest, Anthology is a must.

With its epic storylines, hundreds of combat scenarios, and open-ended structure, Gladius is one of the deepest games of the year. If you play strategy/RPGs because you're an anime fan, Gladius will bore you; if you play them because they're fun, Gladius will obsess you.

A bold experiment for DICE. It's a dramatic departure from the "Battlefield" games, and provides a refreshing experience to those willing to invest the time in its strict control mechanics. The combat's unfortunately its Achilles' heel, since it lacks the spontaneity of the free-running and in many instances brings the action to a crashing halt.

After the high quality of the first two episodes of Season Two, it's disappointing to see the series misfire as it reaches its midpoint.

At the end of some extensive play time with MPP, I'd have to say that this is one of the more unique gaming sessions you can have on the Nintendo DS.

Anyone hoping this long dormant series to be reborn will be sorely disappointed. Anyone that hasn't tried a Mega Man game yet would be better advised to spend $15 on a new copy of "Mega Man 8" on the PSOne.

As is the case with even the best action films, BLACK probably won't stay with you long after the closing credits have rolled. That's not to say, however, that you won't be on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Ghostbusters is a fun, accessible game, whether you're a fan of the films or not. It's also the best game based on a film franchise since The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.

A solid port of a fairly awesome game. If not for the high system demands and random slowdowns, it might actually compete with the 360 and Wii for the best version available.

If you've ever played either of the Smuggler's Run games on the PS2, then you've already played this game.

Hopefully next year will bring some real options for less arcadey play to satisfy a wider audience, but NHL 2K7 is still a reliably fun launch title for the PS3.