Although it takes a little bit of time to adjust to the sluggish controls, the game still delivers a solidly entertaining experience.

A game that shouldn't have been made. It's a hardcore product with next to nothing new to offer to the hardcore. Meanwhile, more casual people will be turned off by the confusing learning curve and the utterly awful aesthetics.

It features some excellent graphics and audio production, as well as some of the best voiceover work to date. However, this can't make up for the frustrating gameplay, which tries to focus on stealth, combat, and platforming, yet doesn't manage to do any of these particularly well.

It features some excellent graphics and audio production, as well as some of the best voiceover work to date. However, this can't make up for the frustrating gameplay, which tries to focus on stealth, combat, and platforming, yet doesn't manage to do any of these particularly well.

A very decent race game. It's just one that happens to fall into a crowded category, and the car that's late out of the gate is rarely the winner.

Offers a good variety of race options and an involved career mode, but that flawed mode puts too much focus on money, respect, and schedules, and not enough on actual racing.

Not much better than last year's unimpressive console games. However, the smooth control, portability, and uniqueness of the experience -- this is the only FPS for the DS at the moment -- help differentiate it enough that some folks might enjoy it.

Not a port of an older game or a collection of mini-games or a glorified tech demo -- an actual game with actual depth. Kirby: Canvas Curse is that game. It's simple, to be sure, but it's also remarkably fun.

Topsy-Turvy's sensor isn't quite so advanced -- it only picks up three moves: left, right, and neutral. This gives you far less control over the onscreen action, and can be especially frustrating when you want to roll that boulder just a tad to the right so that you land on it instead of that pit of spikes after you jump.

If you've played "Midnight Club" or "Need for Speed Underground" for any length of time, it's hard to tell you to run out and purchase Juiced. That's a shame, because this really is a very decent race game.

Squats squarely in the middle of the pack in terms of quality. With the exception of a brief infatuation with "mutant mode" and a few set pieces involving squadmates, the gameplay is serviceable, but standard.

The PC version suffers from a few technical glitches and generally looks a little dated compared to other PC titles, but still feels like an improvement over the PS2 version, and is filled with weeks of gameplay and unforgettable moments. It's not to be missed.

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.

If the concept of a samurai in cowboy country is that appealing to you, scrounge up a copy of "Rising Zan: Samurai Gunman" for PSone. Its gameplay, graphics, and camera are by no means better, but at least it embraces the setting for all its worth, and even gives the main character a kick-ass theme song!

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.

It looks and sounds better than ever, which more than makes up for the minor control issues. If you've been searching for the best Grand Theft Auto experience around, look no further: San Andreas is the real deal.

European Assault represents the high point for the series in terms of graphics (not counting the PC titles, that is), as it features some nice environmental textures and impressive looking character models.

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.

It's clear that Boiling Point has some neat ideas and the potential for fun, but as tantalizing as the game can be, it can also feel more like slow torture than entertainment.

Restricted Area could have nicely filled the underused niche of the sci-fi action-RPG, but the bugs, boring level design, and tedious pathfinding combine to make the game a miserable chore.

All the good intentions in the world can't make a game good, and shoddy craftsmanship and not-quite-there design afflicts just about every aspect of this one.

If you're prepared to treat Metal Slug 4/5 as an arcade game and are interested in discovering secrets and alternate paths then you can get a lot out of this game.

Easily one of best GBA titles to ever come out for the handheld system. Its rich story, colorful characters, and excellent gameplay all add up to make this a truly satisfying experience.

It's simple enough to pick up and play for a couple of minutes, but engaging enough to keep you enthralled through a long commute or on a cross-country flight.

If this title had come out before the console version, I'm sure we'd have been amazed by its accomplishments, rather than puzzled by its mistakes.

WildTangent deserves a huge amount of praise for delivering a remarkably addictive dungeon crawl, and at a mere $20, it's a fate anyone who enjoyed the solo portion of Diablo shouldn't hesitate to meet.

One frustrating game. It gets so many things right and it certainly looks the part, but fans of the genre -- especially those interested in Napoleon-era fighting -- will have a tough time getting around the game's lighthearted attempt at modeling combat.

Admirably ambitious, yet also a victim of its own ambition, suffering from information/feature overload and a less-than-stellar interface.

The nicely crafted dialogue, which often leads players through each level, is a good extra, as it keeps the story moving at just the right level of consciousness.

What the game lacks in shock value, it more than makes up for in sheer psychological terror.

Although the game isn't on the same level as its console counterparts, the DS version holds its own.

The slow load times, the tedious puzzles, and the overall lack of fun in this title are almost awe inspiring. It's really very hard figure out why someone gave the go-ahead on its production.

The single-player modes are really lacking, which is really astounding since the multiplayer is so much fun.

If you want outrageous arcade racing action, along with the chance to solve some puzzles and get creative, TrackMania Sunrise is a safe bet for your gaming dollar.

A mess of a game. Buggy, incomplete and all together boring, it's a huge disappointment for fans that are starving for a fun role-playing game on the PC that doesn't require a fast Internet connection.

Things are finally looking up for the big-name MMO that reached for the stars but never seemed to get off the ground.

It's unfortunate that pointless busywork and a poorly designed and integrated puzzles end up throwing roadblocks in what should have been one of the best adventure games in the recent memory.

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.

While certainly not the last Star Wars game we'll ever see on the Nintendo DS, you couldn't ask for the actual film license to go out on a better note.

Surprising in its quality, and fans should find this portable adventure to be the perfection companion to their Game Boy Advances as they sit in line waiting for the first showing's of the saga's epic conclusion.

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.

Sadly, a lot of the goodwill generated by Pariah is killed when the bugs come crawling out.

For all it does with innovations in HUD, career mode, and vehicle unlocking, multiplayer is a bit underwhelming.

For a truly surreal experience, take Hot Shots out to the course during your next 18, and play a hole or two in between real holes. The only danger there is the rest of your group might become too hooked on what you're doing on Open Tee rather than finishing the real round.

Its simple controls and manic gameplay make the game stand out in a genre already filled with mediocrity. If you can get past the irritating voiceovers, you'll find an entertaining experience you can't wait to share with your friends.

But what really sinks you into the world of GTR is the superlative and pervasive sound. There's a powerful sense that you're on a track with a bunch of overpowered, extremely noisy engines all around you.

In the cold light of day it's simply another FPS that falls halfway between memorable extremes.

Even without a high level of graphics pleasure, Forza is still better than "Gran Turismo 4." Why? How about incredible online play, solid AI and a realistic damage model? That's in addition to hundreds of cars, impeccable control and a career mode deep enough to rival your local bottomless well.

Unfortunately, those of us who actually have had any experience with pinball games won't find any reason to come back to this one after the initial feeling of nostalgia fades away.

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

It just comes a bit short as turn-based game, with underwhelming historical battles and lacks the rich RTS experience of the original.

Gameplay issues aside, Showdown is still a very enjoyable game, mostly due to the fact that it offers a wide variety of game modes.

An interesting, enjoyable game. Missing third race and lack of game options hurt score.

It's totally new and different. There's nothing else like this on the market. And it's a PvP fan's dream. But the big thing that pushes Guild Wars into must-have territory is the fact that there's no monthly fee.

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.

A partially lacerated corpse of a game with great chunks of fun missing.

File #2 doesn't break a lot of new ground like Resident Evil 4 did. For better or for worse, it's simply more of the same with a few cosmetic tweaks.

Damned if I didn't enjoy it enough to get hooked early and often. I can't help it; I still love tactical-RPGs and this game has more than enough battling, plot-advancing, and customization to keep my affections.

It feels a bit PS1-era, prior to the introduction of the Dual Shock, honestly. Once I messed around with the controls for a while, I got used to them, but I am not enthusiastic about them.

The camera is manually controlled, which means it's completely out of control when you're moving vertically, near buildings, or want to actually attack a foe.

The PSP's 16:9 aspect ratio inherently allows for a broad perspective, which serves the dual purpose of providing more impressive visuals and enabling players to follow more of the action than a 4:3 screen would allow.

It feels like we've traveled these claustrophobic corridors a million times before, and there's really nothing here to make you want to put down one of the far superior shooters that can be found on the Xbox.

Despite the game's sub-par graphics and repetitive gameplay, it still manages to be entertaining enough to be worth a look.

Although the game looks pretty good, it's not enough to hide the title's repetitive gameplay mechanics.

Delta Force Xtreme's multiplayer isn't subtle or innovative and tends to suffer from lag and some crashes, but it's filled with exciting, over-the-top action.

It's just so generic, despite its few twists, and its B-grade action movie cinematics and plot are absolutely the stuff of dozens of other also-ran action games of the current generation.

It's just so generic, despite its few twists, and its B-grade action movie cinematics and plot are absolutely the stuff of dozens of other also-ran action games of the current generation.

And for those of us who've had our fill of the Barneys and Elmos and other sickeningly sweet creatures forced onto children today … it's finally payback time!

It's one of the best platformers the system has seen, mostly thanks to its amazing visuals and downright hilarious dialogue.

I don't know whether Studio Gigante isn't capable of developing a good wrestling game, or if the new engine is flawed. Whatever the reason, this game is Grade A, 100% jabroni.

In a world where one of the most common gamer laments is there's no originality in gaming anymore, Psychonauts is an incredibly enjoyable breath of fresh air.

Its sloppy controls and poor presentation will likely turn off even some of the most diehard fans of the ATV Offroad franchise.

But it's impossible to ignore the unfinished feel of the "final" product and even though it received a patch almost immediately after release, a lot more support is needed to make this a game worth investing a lot of time in. It's simply not finished yet.

Granted, the concept of staring at a screen full of black and white squares for minutes on end looking for the correct line to draw may not sound like the most exciting game out there, but for those who appreciate a good mental challenge, it's a treat.

UC2 is trying to create a fun, arcade sensibility and atmosphere that takes the franchise and the genre in a sporty, flamboyant, enjoyable new direction. In this it succeeds admirably.

All things considered, it's probably a blessing that Dead To Rights II is a short game. Most players will easily nail the coffin shut in a weekend.

Ad Hoc games ran particularly smooth, but the Infrastructure games had the occasional hiccup or two. In these games, lag would occasionally cause my batter to swing late (if at all).

By combining stunning visuals, an entertaining (and challenging) combat system, and one of the best stories in recent memory, the folks at BioWare have somehow managed to create yet another brilliant game.

All things considered, it's probably a blessing that Dead To Rights II is a short game. Most players will easily nail the coffin shut in a weekend.

Aside from minor framerate niggles, DUB is one of the finest racers to hit the market in recent memory, and it's certainly the king of the tuner racer scene, without a doubt.

Aside from minor framerate niggles, DUB is one of the finest racers to hit the market in recent memory, and it's certainly the king of the tuner racer scene, without a doubt.

Shame on Namco for sitting on this game for so long and letting it grow stale.

All in all, Cold War Conflict doesn't offer much except cut corners and a genuinely frustrating experience.

Simply put, this isn't anywhere near as entertaining as any of the "Resident Evils" or "Silent Hills," but it's no "Blue Stinger," either.

But nobody is going to fall in love with the game, unless they're in love with the sound of Jamie Little's big mouth.

Even though Spy vs. Spy has some dreadful, contrived gameplay, things are evened out a bit with options for in-game Dolby Digital sound and HDTV 480p functions. Even though you're stuck with a mediocre game, it will look and sound fairly clean.

Simply put, this isn't anywhere near as entertaining as any of the "Resident Evils" or "Silent Hills," but it's no "Blue Stinger," either.

First to Fight's flawed A.I. and abbreviated single-player game certainly don't advance the FPS genre in a significant way, but its entertaining multiplayer component scores a welcome bull's-eye.

It looks okay, sounds all right, and plays decent. But nobody is going to fall in love with the game, unless they're in love with the sound of Jamie Little's big mouth.

There's something compelling about the room-to-room nature of the single-player missions that rarely gets old, even after you've failed a particular mission a dozen times.

If, like me, you want a little more story to chew on, you'll probably want to find a game packed with a little less extension and a little more pretension.

If you want excellent action then you should skip this one and go buy "God of War" or "Devil May Cry 3." If you're willing to forgive gameplay flaws for a really unique interactive story then you'll be happy with this game.

If you don't break into a big, dopey grin while running around shattering LEGO Battle Droids into their component parts, then you should just put videogames down for good -- you've outgrown them.

A love-it-AND-hate-it title. The presentation and story aren't quite as elaborate as "DOOM 3," and things bog down a little in the second half, but the new weapons and gadgets provide a nice boost to the core gameplay.

The biggest and best addition to the game is a cooperative mode, allowing players to battle Hell's minions either via system link or on Xbox Live... It's gory, it's violent, and it's one of the best uses of Live we've seen so far.

If you don't break into a big, dopey grin while running around shattering LEGO Battle Droids into their component parts, then you should just put videogames down for good -- you've outgrown them.

That's what LEGO Star Wars is all about: a great time. Whether it's the nostalgia or the cuteness that hooks you in, the gameplay makes it worth sticking around.

The attention to detail (such as when Sam slowly reaches for his knife while approaching a foe) makes you forget that you're playing a game at times. It may not look quite as good as the Xbox, but it's still one of the prettiest GameCube games you'll see.