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.

What really breathes longevity in Agent Under Fire is the bot support, something missing from the PlayStation 2 version.

Once you get used to the controls and master the trick moves, you'll rediscover your addiction to this arcade classic.

If you just want to have a lot of fun batting a ball bearing around fantastic locales, then Flipnic should be 20 bucks well-spent.

Though it's a bit rough around the edges, Second Sight packs a huge core of ideas into what could have been a standard shooter. Powerful psionics, extensive gun combat, and a great story are all just part of the plan.

It's a beautifully immersive game that really takes advantage of the Wii's hardware to create a vivid and memorable experience.

Unlike many RTS games where resource management can get tedious, or combat is a generic form of minutia, American Conquest does RTS right by deftly combining resource management with warfare.

If you're a Tony Hawk fan and you can't get enough of the series, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground for DS is indisputably the best of the bunch this year. It feels like the classic Hawk titles of five years ago, yet it manages to adapt some of the good elements from updated games to make a fulfilling experience.

Minor A.I quibbles aside, MotoGP 3 works as one of the fastest, most sharply designed, and deepest racing games on the Xbox.

As good as the storyline and basic gameplay are, there are more than a few issues that keep this game from reaching the bar set by the first KotOR. The first: bugs. There a lot of them; most are just annoying, but a few are deadly.

Although the game controls quite well, one move is pretty tough to get the hang of.

Patapon is like a cleverly designed trojan horse, built to sucker you in with cute graphics and then beat you down with its primal, rhythmic challenge. It's great fun, but you may find it tough to actually play the game on the go considering the amount of attention it requires.

It's amazing how well some of these games stand up. Yes, they're absolutely nothing to look at, but the gameplay in a lot of the cases is just as addictive and compelling today as it was 20 years ago.

Even as it stands now, EverQuest II is extremely fun to play, frequently rewarding, and designed with just the right amount of user convenience in mind.

Sure, some fans will question the exclusion of some of Capcom's other hit games (where's "Strider?"), but this is still a great place to start. For old-school gaming fans that spent all their free time and money at the arcades, this is an experience not to be missed.

It's great for family gaming and the competitive edge offered makes it attractive to core gamers. If only Nintendo had bothered to include global ranked high-score leaderboards.

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

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.

Considering the strong debut we saw last year, we're not quite as impressed by what's been added to the experience.

If you've wanted to play Rogue-like games in the past, but found them to be a bit too unforgiving, this is an exceedingly good alternative to look into.

One of the most entertaining games to hit the PSP this year.

From the excellent tutorials to the toughest challenges, the entire world seems like a skating arena made just for you.

A solid addition to an already impressive franchise.

If you've already picked up 07, what you're really getting here is a shot to play some impressively immersive golf using the Wii Remote. It's a solid demonstration of the technology.

Fun, but it lacks the depth and originality of "Virtua Tennis" and "Mario Tennis."

The experience it provides is completely engrossing, and all of its subtle elements were crafted with a careful hand. The resulting game feels like it's teeming with life, and genuinely responding to your interactions.

I strongly believe tactical RPG fans will get a whole lot of mileage from Growlanser Generations. Just don't ask me to recommend dropping $90 on the deluxe package with a watch, ring, and deck of playing cards. My advice: be happy you have a regular-priced option.

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

If you've never played a Pokémon game before but have always wanted to try it, this is the version to get.

There's a reason that people fell in love with Katamari Damacy a few years ago -- it's an addicting and utterly charming experience.

While both the PS2 and Xbox versions do let you hook up with faraway X-Fans, the portability of the Cube console (compared to Microsoft's gargantuan console) and the ease of connecting up to four controllers (no need for a Multi-Tap) makes this the choice for the moveable co-op bash.

If your dream garage has side-by-side parking spaces for an off-road K500 Pro Baja Duneracer, a Williams BMW FW27 F-1 machine, and a vintage Corvette L88 Sunray DX, this is the game for you.

Prey is undoubtedly one of the most interesting games to hit the Xbox 360 so far. It introduces some unique gameplay mechanics in the wall walking and portals, and the Death Walk stuff ensures that you'll be able to sit and play the game for hours on end without getting frustrated.

The next Dragon Quest Monsters installment on DS will probably be even better, but in the meantime players can enjoy this fun and innovative experience that is more than just another Pokemon game.

Though the Xbox version of the game doesn't have all the newer features of the latest PlayStation 2 version, it boasts the largest song list of any game in the series, downloadable content, and more diverse control options.

It's fun while it lasts, and I can't wait to see what other cool narrative ideas Supergiant Games comes up with for future games.

The new Open Ice mechanics allow for smoother, wide-open play than previous versions, and the Dynasty Mode is as deep and realistic as any I've ever seen.

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.

And yet, despite Shadow of the Damned being a more approachable adventure than the typical Grasshopper creation, it's what you see and hear over the course of the 10-12 hour campaign that really sticks with you.

This is the first frothing video game form of Cthulhu Mythos that's been done almost completely right, and this year's most frightening first-person adventure. A true cult classic.

And yet, despite Shadow of the Damned being a more approachable adventure than the typical Grasshopper creation, it's what you see and hear over the course of the 10-12 hour campaign that really sticks with you.

There's not really all that much new content in Mario Party 6 save for the microphone novelty, but in the end the final product feels more polished and enjoyable than both previous efforts released on the GameCube.

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 game is short, explosive and downright slick and it's everything we hoped it was going to be.

Substantial changes are what the series needs to really glow again, and they just aren't here. Bizarre Creations "phoning it in" is still better than a lot of developers' best, but if Bizarre Creations has something truly innovative up its sleeve, it seems it's saving it for its next title for its new publisher, Activision.

It seems like the beginning of a friendly, helpful community, and the world is so immense and full of life you'll want to see every inch of it.

The pace of things and the more demanding controls in Smash Court Tennis 3 may bum out those expecting more of an arcade tennis experience, but anyone looking for a truer-to-life sim-style take on the sport should definitely check this one out.

Packs a huge core of ideas into what could have been a standard shooter. We've got powerful psionics, extensive gun combat, and a great story.

A great package.

There are enough gameplay modes available here to appeal to any basketball fan, whether it be the competitive head-to-head fan, the franchise-loving simulation freak, or even those who can't get enough over-the-top streetball action.

If you're into WWII shooters -- and judging by the sales of every single Call of Duty title ever, you are -- but you're looking for something with a little twist to it -- which, judging by the sales of twisty straws, you are -- and you don't mind the color green -- and judging by the number of Irish people in the world, you don't -- you should get yourself a copy of Wolfenstein.

One of the best new features is the NFL Network mode, which provides you with excellent tutorials for some of the NFL team's most recognizable plays.

Speaking of tacked on, the way the brief (roughly an hour) four-player co-op campaign mode is wedged into the story cheapens the entire thing a bit, even if it is pretty entertaining to play.

Trion's ad campaigns promised a revolution; Rift itself merely delivers commendable refinement.

Star Fox Command isn't a return to the glory days or a flawless project that redefines the series, but it's a solid and interesting title that takes on new ideas and comes up with something entirely worthwhile.

If you dig either dungeon crawlers or Marvel comic icons, you'll probably enjoy what Ultimate Alliance has to offer.

If you already played the original version on Xbox, it's tough to recommend padding Microsoft's pockets again, but noobs will probably get their dollar's worth.

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.

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.

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.

The driving is fine, made just a bit more difficult with the PSP's analog nub, but the shooting is very problematic thanks to the twitchy and unreliable lock-on system the series has become famous for.

It's a nifty twist on the traditional RPG in both its battle engine and the offbeat nuances of its plot. The pacing could have been a touch faster, but it's a small gripe in the grand scheme of things.

If you enjoy this type of game, you won't find a much better example of it in the portable world.

This hybrid of sim and arcade racing may take some getting used to -- its learning curve is steeper than your average Burnout or Need for Speed -- but the time investment is worth it.

The single-player experience is pretty sparse and really only worth playing to gain more characters, Achievement Points, and practice. Multiplayer is at the core of this game.

Noby Noby Boy appears to be confusing from the outset, but it's a surprisingly rewarding experience once you've cut through its eccentricities. It offers a lot but appears to be about nothing.

Battalion Wars 2 boasts enjoyable storylines and presentation along with killer weapons and a dose of strategy. That gets a gold star in our book. Four, even.

There's tons of content in the form of characters, powers, stats, and unlockable treats, and the action -- especially during the boss fights -- is usually satisfying. It can be a bit too linear and the clumsy keyboard/mouse setup detracts from the PC version a bit, but otherwise, it's uncannily good.

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.

At twenty dollars, Torchlight is a remarkable value.

A significant improvement over its predecessor on the 360.

It's a bit ironic, to me, that I'm now complaining about an Ace Attorney game being too easy, but hey -- given how arcane the adventure games of old often got, I'm glad this is the worst thing I can say about AAI: ME.

Ugly graphics aside, this is one of the most unique games I've played all year. The controls are different and the story is fantastic.

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 multiplayer component is particularly strong, with ad hoc games, an infrastructure network mode where players can link up for games, and a transmission mode where you can send individual turns to other players, so a game can be played over a longer period of time, much like the old play-by-email strategy gaming of yesteryear.

It has enough to keep any committed racing fan coming back for a good couple of months. Some may argue that the gameplay is dated and the lack of options is overly restrictive. Fair enough, stick to Gran Turismo. Everyone else should race, have fun, and enjoy the rally.

Mass Media has done a sterling job with the port, and if you can get past the slightly dated visuals, you'll find the heart of the stylish, carnage-filled ride beating away underneath.

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.

It's a fantastic game that's unlike anything you've played before (except maybe Clu Clu Land on NES). Pick it up and give those shoulder buttons a workout!

Veterans players with plenty of Company of Heroes combat under their belt will eagerly dig into the new expansion pack as the new armies on offer are a lot of fun and will throw plenty of new twists into multiplayer games.

Despite a few lags and slowdowns, the multiplayer action is always involving, and it gets pretty challenging when you're playing against a bunch of other humans. If you've got an Xbox Live account, you owe it to yourself to give Battlefront a try.

Even if you make only one trip through LEGO Indiana Jones, it'll be a great ride.

A highly entertaining RPG that no PSP-owning fan of the genre should pass up. Your socks won't be blown off, but your role-playing desires will be satiated. Isn't that more important?

As always, Turbine serves its storyline with as much love and attention as a hobbit does his breakfast.

May be a slight letdown to fans of the series that enjoy a more well-rounded platformer, but it will thrill those looking for fast action, plenty of weapons, and killer online play.

Although Fatal Frame III will simultaneously delight and scare the bejesus out of fans of the series, Tecmo will need to take that next big step in "Fatal Frame IV" to keep this innovative series at the top of the survival-horror heap.

It might not be as deep as its PC counterpart, but it's perfect for console gamers, who are generally looking for a more casual experience. By the end, my buddy was living the high life, and I was actually proud that my Urb was finally one of the popular kids.

Its multiplayer co-op hook is also a nice hook for getting brothers and sisters or moms and dads involved as a sidekick for a little family game action. That's never a bad thing.

Skate It's fun comes from the using the Stylus in creative ways to pull off tricks that aren't really exaggerated at all. Sure, grinding is a little easier on this version of the game than any other console, but most of the other tricks could be seen on any standard skate video. The uniqueness of this game comes from how you play, not what you pull off. Skate It isn't perfect, but it's no poser either.

Injects a good dose of originality and fun into what can often be an unoriginal genre.

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.

The new Open Ice mechanics allow for smoother, wide-open play than previous versions, and the Dynasty Mode is as deep and realistic as any I've ever seen.

If you've wanted to play Rogue-like games in the past, but found them to be a bit too unforgiving, this is an exceedingly good alternative to look into.

Guiding a cursor around a screen, activating a scope, and taking out targets is certainly an original and enjoyable experience, but the repetition of the enemy patterns make it difficult to return to after the game has been beaten or you've had your fill of playing sniper for a day.

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.

Older players will recognize its obvious inspiration, and some pre-teens may balk at the surprising level of difficulty, but Zelda knock-off or not, it's a fine game and proof that movie cash-ins on handhelds don't always stink.

Graffiti connoisseurs will love the real-life taggers that make cameos, as well as the actual art that Trane puts up. The game also features a fantastic soundtrack, as well as one of the most impressive collections of celebrity voices in recent memory.

If you buy one PSP title this year, Ghost of Sparta is a safe bet for the best game you're going to get.