It's very easy to pick up and play, although the control scheme is occasionally daunting.

A game that manages to innovate in an already saturated racing market by offering fun gameplay, and a solid dosage of realism and options.

The physics are extremely arcade-based, which isn't a bad. The problem is, however, that the controls feel sluggish and the cars feel like they're pivoting around a pole running through their center.

An official apology for last year's dreadful "DBZ: Taiketsu." It gives gamers a true sense of the high-flying fighting action that makes up the anime series.

Blazes across your screen with incredible graphics, addictive gameplay, and deep play options. Sure, it's not flawless, but it's definitely worth playing.

The U.S. version, on the other hand, features too many one-hit wonders that could have been easily eliminated without anybody mourning them: how many times do you want to sing Chumbawumba's "Tubthumping" or Spin Doctors' "Two Princes"? The novelty is gone after the first time.

If you can put up with some repetition and the simplicity of the management system, you'll enjoy yourself. Most of the mini-games are quite a bit of fun, too, and they make for some good multiplayer sessions.

If you can get it to run, there's a lot to like in Frontlines: Fuel of War, and it could provide for many late nights of multiplayer excitement. But for now, your best bet is to wait until the dust clears and hope for something, soon, that resembles a finished product.

It's a satisfyingly lengthy game, with loads of missions to complete and a huge assortment of comic book-inspired side missions to bring you a little more insight into the backgrounds of the game's leading characters.

The gameplay is tight and punchy, and the overall experience is so well-crafted that it's worth soaking up every last insane moment.

In many ways, the controls are dead-on, but the awkward shooting controls hamstring the action.

Here we have a game that compiles seven barely-different shoot 'em up games into one Wii disk, so the only way you're going to like it at all is if you like the original Metal Slug. None of the sequels have done anything particularly different, and every one of them has a ton of throw-backs to the original.

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

A slightly schizophrenic brew. The true-to-the-sport side won't please the football gamers used to deeper titles from EA or Sega, and those who just like the idea of flagrant late hits might be disappointed that some of the lunacy seems to have been toned down.

Other than its "Janglish"-infused plot and low-altitude issues, Lethal Skies II is an excellent air-combat game; the arsenal of real-life and fictional planes is outstanding, and the action is doled out in perfectly sized chunks.

Just having new characters to play with is a nice advancement, and I ended up having more fun playing the game than I thought I would.

One of the problems is a lack of meaningful interaction with the rest of the world.

A generic racer with worse-than-generic graphics.

There is no reason to jump onboard its potentially dynamic ride unless you have the time to virtually marry the game...it will also be well worth the effort.

A turbulent ride between decent action, half-baked graphics and camera, and occasionally clunky, but undeniably authentic presentation.

This game is well worth its 40 hours, and there are plenty of laughs to go along.

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 you've played any of the previous Tenkaichi titles, you know exactly what to expect here -- a relatively shallow button-masher that does a darn fine job of letting you relive the Dragon Ball experience. Those looking for anything else will be disappointed, but if you just want another excuse to beat up Frieza, this game will suit you perfectly.

It's the foot-based missions that people play this game for. And to be more specific, it's the multiplayer foot-based missions that are enjoyable.

Even though I cursed and swore my way through the bulk of the game, the characters and the story moved me in a way that very few games do. But, epic disappointment or epic tale, it definitely earns its name.

Surprisingly enough, TD: EOD not only satisfies these hedonistic tendencies, it also delivers an interestingly deep and accessible gameplay system.

Awkward controls and handling largely dilute the fun of "kicking ass with the Force," especially during a few big moments toward the end. The Force Unleashed spins an entertaining yarn, but its gameplay prevents it from becoming a rich contributor to "Star Wars'" interactive tapestry.

Collectively, these tweaks add a number of new tactics to the Worms repertoire, and another layer of customization. Revolution is a positive step forward. It's not, however, a game-changer, and if you're tired of the basic Worms template, it's not going to draw you back. It's no revolution. As a revival though, there's lots to like, in the old and the new.

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.

If you've ever wanted to venture "Beyond Thunderdome," look no further, for this is action driving done right.

A game in waiting. It's certainly playable right now and has some fun despite its issues. Still, you can see how this could end up one of the best baseball game ever made... if it ever gets finished.

Although the single player campaign is on the short side, a solid multiplayer mode will ensure that you'll still be playing it a few months from now. If you're looking to fight in the Big One, it's time to answer the call.

If you loved Vietcong, you'll probably love this expansion; just don't get your hopes up about finding anything groundbreaking.

A lone EyeToy-keteer is going to get bored rather quickly with Groove. It's like playing Scrabble by yourself -- it can be done, but it's just not the same without encouragement or competition.

If you can approach GD2 on its own terms and conquer it, the utterly unique gameplay experience is simply, well, glorious.

It shows flashes of its former brilliance through two new races that are full of personality and are a lot of fun to play with, but falls flat through a lackluster single-player campaign, mediocre (at best) new air units and two devastating bugs that will kill the multiplayer scene until Relic issues an eventual patch.

After such an uneven effort, there can be no other assessment made: the game gods must be displeased.

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 striking visual design, the intensity of the battles, and the seamlessness of the mech's transformation add up to an engaging experience.

If you are used to "running around and blowing everything up," Hitman will give you some problems. You can't play the game as though it were a fast and furious game of "Quake."

Your love for trivia games will heavily determine whether you want to pick up this package or not, as there's a great deal here for movie fans but probably not a lot for others.

It's a real shame that Earth 2160 is so hostile to new players, because it features a powerful graphics engine, a deep and rewarding game design, and potentially limitless replayability with all its flexibility.

Even if it does look really cool with its robots, aliens, and model spaceships, Unstoppable Gorg is just an unbalanced mess of a tower defense game. It seems to spend more time setting the player up to fail, than to offer a compelling reason to keep playing.

Despite its flaws, Dante's Inferno is definitely worth checking out, if only because it presents a unique visual take on one of literature's greatest works. It's occasionally shocking and often annoyingly repetitive, but the action is good enough to keep you engaged through what is a thought-provoking experiment in converting classic literature to a game.

Those who have always looked at the Neverwinter Nights series as a glorious toy they can tear apart and reconstruct into their own D&D fantasies are going to be very happy with what comes in this installment. If you've come to uncover the mystery of the "Storm of Zehir," you might want to stay indoors until the shower passes.

With the problems in setting up the controller and the lack of ability for an auto-lean feature are it's main faults. Other tidbits such as the audio and the physics could've been done just a wee bit better.

If you’re an enthusiast of well-designed levels who doesn’t need twitch action to be satisfied, you should definitely give it a go. All others will likely nod off.

The graphics, while generally underwhelming, flow smooth and fast, and the controls match the graphics turn for turn. I wish all of the game was as polished as the best parts.

If you're looking for a lengthy (as in 100+ hours) RPG that blends quick and dirty gameplay with heaping plates of detail and sophisticated character development, no one else comes close to this series.

For fans of the card game, Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare Troubadour is a dream come true. The game takes everything that has made the card game so popular for years, and faithfully puts it all together in one convenient handheld package.

It's astounding, almost like a train wreck the player can see coming, but has no power to stop. These unarmed dullards in Warrior do not stay behind their defenders.

The limited longevity and lack of subtlety tends to wear down an otherwise entertaining scrap-fest.

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

If you like things in quick spurts and dig the idea of a zillion mini-games, grab Sony's game, but if you want a bit more realism and the ability to log some serious time in a multi-season career mode, head EA's way. You really can't lose either way.

The storyline and wingman idea both add a lot to things, but eventually, the racing becomes too repetitive.

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").

Older gamers will likely find it too cutesy, but younger gamers -- especially budding videogame artists -- will find a lot to like here.

War of the Roses is a game I desperately want to like more than I do. It's the end product of so many high-quality pieces, but unfortunately it fails to really pull everything together.

It takes a special breed of player to appreciate the team-based aesthetics of the series, but for those who do it can be a wicked addiction to shake.

As a play-alone game, it's well worth the money, but without even moderately acceptable multiplayer support it's going to have an uphill fight to find a larger audience -- and that's a shame because it deserves better.

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

In spite of its solid online multiplayer, good video editor, and fun arcade game, the overall experience can't rise to the level of the game's great predecessors.

A fun platformer with a good mix of nostalgia and modern technology.

Certainly an improvement considering how bad some of those earlier games were -- but yet Test Drive really has a ways to go before it will ever reach the status of a "Triple-A" racing title.

Rather than approaching the controls from a PC-centric point of view, the developers seemed to be trying to graft the Xbox's analog stick control-pad system directly onto a mouse and keyboard setup.

Sure, the core gameplay is still there -- and it's still fun -- it's just marred by shoddy visuals and a stuttering framerate. In a shooter, a sketchy framerate is the last thing you want. And that's not all -- the game's cool save system has been totally botched on the PS2 port.

Hardcore fans will find a lot to like, but until the AI and balance issues are fixed it remains merely a good game but one that falls a bit below expectations.

Character and story are two vital parts of RPGs. The Third Age fails in both departments.

The game is serviceable if not stellar and comes packed with plenty of extras designed to make fans of the franchise drop dead from sheer joy.

The game's strongest point is its graphics and audio presentation, which captures the vibe of a WWE telecast very nicely.

Controls and lonliness issues aside, I did enjoy most of my time with SkyDrift. It's a well-produced budget racing game with a wide variety of racetracks, and a nice change of pace that doesn't involve dragons or terrorists. Just make sure to try the demo first to be certain you can handle the control weirdness.

The lack of decent multiplayer and total lack of online play hurt the longevity, but if you absolutely need a racer to play at launch, you can't really do any better than this one.

A solid sendoff for the console that made it great. Just be sure to bring a few friends with you when you sign up for this tour of duty.

Yes, the PS3 version comes with bonus single-player content. No, it isn't worth the aggravation. If you have a 360 or a beefy PC, buy those (cheaper) versions of this game. If you only have a PS3, "Resistance" is a better shooter for the system.

While some may moan about the "twitch," "cheap," or "shockingly similar" gameplay that you just can't get away with these days, arcade purists and those seeking a legal way to play an outstanding array of Capcom's late '80s offerings should revel in this collection.

As cool as the visuals can be, they're ultimately like a flashy paintjob on a car without much under the hood. The amount of unimaginative busywork and lame repetition in this game is really unfortunate.

If you're looking for a break from the usual DS fare of brain boosters and quirky "impress the girl by beating a billion mini-games" titles, this game will fill the need. But for those looking for a more definitive way to defeat Hitler -- and in the original "story boards" for the war, he sported a Fu Manchu moustache -- the wait continues.

You couldn't ask for a more unapologetically insane FPS. Turn off your brain, turn on auto-fire, and get serious.

Some will take Urban Chaos at face value and feel good inside with the game's many nods at the every day heroes of Americatown, USA. Others will take in the game's blatant sensationalism and wonder if it's not-so-subtle satire. Regardless, Urban Chaos: Riot Response is lots of fun, and merits a look from anyone who enjoys shooters.

The Ultimate Team adds a nicer touch than we'd initially anticipated it would, although it's still probably a bit complicated for some to enjoy, especially in regard to team management and contract cards.

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.

The controls don't feel like they're adequate enough to stand up to the fast-paced action that the CPU or a multiplayer opponent can deliver.

Multiplayer is where the game takes a big hit when compared to the PSP version of The Show.

Perhaps the largest impediment in Call to Power II is the build tree, which would more accurately be described as the "build pick-up-sticks."

Drives a stake through the heart most license-based games, but it still falls short of being a top-shelf title due to some sluggish controls and framerate trouble.

Scary fun, but some control issues and uneven puzzles make it less fun than its predecessors.

What's truly surprising, given how atmospheric Relic's Homeworld was, is just how lame the story and ambience of Impossible Creatures turned out to be.

While it could have been a more inspired finale, the multiplayer aspect makes up for the single-player shortcomings. The aging engine has been used for all its worth.

While it shares many common flaws found in the genre, Siren is the most innovative (and scary) survival-horror title we've seen in a while.

Despite the beefed up single-player game, Drive's lack of online play keeps it from taking top honors from "Sega Sports' NBA 2K3."

Despite its kooky issues and demoralizing difficulty, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 has totally succeeded in becoming our go-to game for the PSP. Its huge world and endless supply of items and doodads are more than enough to occupy a player for months.

I can really only think of one down side to Serious Sam -- it costs $40. This is a game that provides hours of good, stupid fun, sure, but that just seems a bit steep for a game that's neither particularly novel nor very long from start to finish.

Forgive its design and technical shortcomings and you'll be in for a treat -- let them bother you and you're in for a frustrating ride.

SOE tried, and failed, to straddle the line between action game and MMO. Think Crackdown -- but with all of the concessions, limitations, and annoyances of a mediocre massively multiplayer game.

Shortcomings aside, we harken back to our Vince Carter analogy. Carter's star is fading, and the "next-gen" is already here in D-Wade, 'Bron and Melo. The PS2 version of 2K8 faces a similar challenge.

It'll be a buzzer-beater between this and "NBA Live '06" to determine PSP hoop honors. NBA '06 does a lot right, and offers a slew of options. There are minor glitches to be found, but nothing we'd term a game killer.

The game makes it feel like maybe too much time hasn't passed since the 16-bit days, while somehow still seeming to be a completely competent entry onto the latter-day PS2's stage.

The big reason for diehard Warriors fans to pick up Samurai XL obviously lies in its four new characters. Yep. Four. That's pretty pathetic compared to the nine added to "Dynasty 3 XL" (and even though "Dynasty 4 XL" featured no new warriors, its fun new gameplay modes compensated nicely).