While The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe does have some issues with the A.I. not being smart enough to help you out when you most need it, it's not bad enough to make this a totally horrible game.

Divested of any real spark, Tokobot runs out of steam quickly, mires itself in mediocrity, and never manages to rise above it.

It's arguable that Capture the Enemy is worth the price of admission, being one of the brightest additions to the series in a long time. But considering the ratio of great to mediocre content, you should think twice before parting with the $30.

The movement and timing puzzles that make up the bulk of the gameplay can be tedious and frustrating, but completion of a mission always brings a rewarding sense of accomplishment.

As a whole, Core has once again stepped off the beaten path to give a gameplay experience that few other games can touch.

I love Battlegrounds for the same reason I love arcade-style sports games; it exploits the aspects of its source material that make for great design, and throws the rest out.

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.

If anything, the integration of posing like show characters to unleash their powers will have DBZ haters grinding their teeth louder and longer than they would for the PS2 version. Certainly, the actual fighting mechanic is just as so-so as it was there.

It's more like a Corolla -- it's fun, reliable, efficient and it'll get you where you need to go. It's not going to blow you away, but it is certainly a step above the mediocrity that is flooding the market.

Mercenaries 2 is a lot of fun if you don't get bogged down by its rough-hewn minutiae and relish the simple pleasures of blowing things up.

Dark Sector is a good game that has some great hooks, such as the wonderful glaive and a powerful shotgun. It's unfortunate that other elements, such as unpolished combat and some very generic NPCs, undermine its ambition (though they don't render the game unplayable).

Teases more than pleases. It feels like half of what a good expansion should be, but at the same time is a great buy for those new to the series.

Most people will find Sword of Mana to be a mediocre game, while staunch series fans will find that it gives them exactly what they want.

It plays a good game of Blitz, but a lack of gameplay modes, average graphics for the console, and few appreciable improvements over last year's game make it hard to recommend to anyone but the most ardent fan.

The fundamental gameplay is good, but thematically the game is not aesthetically pleasing.

There's not much new here.

There aren't as many playable characters as we'd like, and the visuals really aren't up to snuff, but the voice actors from the series bring the characters to life, and there's plenty to unlock and accomplish. Best of all, it's good fun for head-to-head competition.

The combat is fun, and you're allowed a pretty satisfying level of leeway as to how your characters develop. But it ends there. All the other things that make a great RPG are absent. No memorable characters, no clever dialogue, no rousing story.

For me, the biggest shortcoming of Amped 3 was the lack of any decent multiplayer gameplay. There's nothing happening with Xbox Live -- save for some cool, but basic score tracking -- and the offline multiplayer is limited to the rather disappointing co-op two-player sledding events.

As much as you'll wish for more variety in setting and situation, what you do get is so smooth, creepy, and darkly pleasurable that you'll be left with a smile and a twitch, if not necessarily satisfaction.

But while the combat and destruction portions of playing as the Saboteur are fun, the story and effect you have on the world are disappointingly underdeveloped.

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.

The bugei gimmick is really clever, and kept driving me to play more. I can't say as much about the actual gameplay and story, however.

Young players will immediately point at the lack of some "obvious" features such as a full multiplayer mode (the current mode only consists of visiting other players' parks without any real way of interacting with them).

Its wide variety of game modes and options lets you create a multiplayer gaming experience to suit any time frame, and the huge number of mini-games sets a very high, very consumer-friendly bar.

It starts off fun, but once you've played enough rounds of Sub-Zero versus The Joker, there's not enough substance in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe to give it the longevity of better fighting games.

Blazing Angels 2 is superior to the original game in every respect, but it's still not as amazing as the Xbox classic "Crimson Skies."

It's a rare old-school follow-up that furthers its roots without selling out.

It's the weak multiplayer that keeps us from recommending The Club with full enthusiasm.

The franchise has always been a strong one on the PSP, but it looks like development might have done a little coasting this year.

Honestly, we still prefer Most Wanted to ProStreet even though ProStreet offers significantly improved tire smoke that actually wraps around the wheel wells of your car, because Most Wanted had cops that chased us and provided a really compelling reason to drive as fast as humanly possible.

Pirates' great mix of excellent control, superb presentation, fun third-person action, and ship combat make it far more interesting than most of the third-person adventures hitting next gen systems.

I was pleased with this Romance, but less than fulfilled.

It emphasizes the bad side of console games: unlockable planes and maps, cartoony characters and situations, a lame checkpoint save system, and no multiplayer support (something the console versions of the game actually get). Missing are the imagination, innovation, and style of the best console games.

The lack of characters combined with the relative lack of gameplay modes makes the overall package seem a bit shallow, as if the inevitable sequel will feature more content. Even so, Burst Limit is a quality fighting game. Non-fans will be lost within the convoluted confines of the Z Chronicles, but the improved battle engine can't be denied.

I was happy to find that the game is well-balanced, requiring even use of all three abilities, and multiple pathways can be accessed by exploring areas with different team leaders. [*See GameSpy for their new 5-star conversion scale]

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.

Like peanut butter and chocolate, the combination of classic puzzle gameplay and RPG game mechanics results in something greater than the sum of its parts.

It's just that the really sloppy platforming and box-moving, which take up a good chunk of the game, puts a big damper on any joy that we might find in shooting up bandits and cowboys.

Its solid gameplay mechanics, tight controls, and impressive presentation come together to give gamers a thoroughly satisfying experience.

DiRT: Showdown delivers bargain-basement entertainment value for the high, high price of $50. With its neutered physics, limited driving venues, clunky multiplayer, and diminished off-road racing options, discerning arcade racing fans should just write this one off as an unanticipated pothole in Codemaster's trailblazing DiRT series.

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.

After spending a few days tinkering around with it, we can't say anything great or awful about UEFA Champions League 2006-2007, but we feel that it's pretty much a build on last fall's game more than a distinctive title that stands out on its own.

Amazingly polished for such a dramatic change in design philosophy, and the fun you'll have playing it more than makes up for its troublesome camera, tepid multiplayer, and absence of actual bloodshed.

Syberia is not a great game, but it tells a great story, despite its translation hiccups.

Primordia isn't a bad adventure, just not one with the spark of other recent attempts - not least Wadjet Eye's own library. The basic ideas are solid, and it's worth checking out at least the demo for the humor that the Horatio/Crispin dialogue brings.

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.

We wish the astonishing re-imagining of the Soviet-Afghanistan war that the comic began with was better represented, but the gameplay is more than capable of carrying this one. The art team did a bang-up job as well, and The Red Star even supports progressive scan.

Champions Online too often feels like a professionally assembled Second Life module, where character creation is king and the thrill of being superhuman wears thin once you realize that everything else just feels off. Whether or not future patches can set some of the more glaring flaws right is anybody's guess.

The difficulty of the game's puzzles (aggravated by a poor interface), combined with tedious mazes and trudging back and forth through emptiness killed my enjoyment of the game.

The frantic pacing and tremendous atmosphere result in adrenaline rushes that'll give the most hardened shoot-'em-up veteran the shakes.

There's not even the slightest attempt to string together the gameplay with a storyline; every mission is a self-contained hunk of hardness.

Compared to the most popular sudoku that has appeared on a console so far, Brain Age for DS, Carol Vorderman's Sudoku presents a more serious approach and is especially designed for hardcore sudoku fans -- never doubt their existence.

For those who bought the original game and have supported it through two years of corporate turmoil, though, Soviet Assault feels like somebody's just trying to squeeze money out of a loyal fan base that really deserves better.

It's the closest one yet to capturing the spirit of the card game.

It’s more lethargic; full of AI cheating, slowed down gameplay and ultimately causing frustration.

The substantial, full game is included, with all the cool modes, as well as a host of new content...but the much-trumpeted online mode is a little too problematic to recommend without hesitation.

A highly playable, though somewhat clichéd, golf game.

Maia’s running animation is perhaps the silliest any main character in a game that was not intentionally funny has ever possessed.

Though this game does manage to shine in some aspects of the presentation, the actual gameplay doesn't manage to pass higher than ordinary.

Despite these issues, all the elements are in place for Brink to become a terrific multiplayer shooter. It handles well, offers customization options galore, and challenges FPS players to do more than just pull the trigger.

Mercenaries 2 is a lot of fun if you don't get bogged down by its rough-hewn minutiae and relish the simple pleasures of blowing things up.

It's hard to deny that the game has some immensely enjoyable moments. It's just too bad that they're too often surrounded by so much clutter.

It's stable, almost bug-free, and has easy-to-use controls, which makes it a nice way to introduce kids to the genre. But anyone who has spent any significant time with tycoon strategy games will probably find it a little light on the strategy.

Trite as it is and pointless as Obsidian's slavish adherence to some of the old standby systems (like loot and leveling) seems, I genuinely hope it gets another crack at Dungeon Siege. The series has never been particularly memorable, but at least under Obsidian's guidance, it's mostly fun.

They don't freshen up the gameplay so much as to make DW3: Xtreme Legends worth another thirty bucks on top of however much you paid for DW3 -- unless you're utterly obsessed with the DW series, or you can find a used DW3 for cheap.

A capable homage to Robotech, but doesn't impress on its own merits as a shooter.

Difficult to learn and a little gimmicky, but an enjoyable golf game nonetheless.

The long delay, outdated graphics, crazy system requirements and the clunky Games for Windows LIVE system are show-stopping obstacles to what should have been a great port of a great game more than a year ago.

Ultimately, the clever level design and variety of traversal techniques (burrowing, web-grappling and wall-crawling) present both a great challenge and a nice diversity in activities that held my interest and kept me playing much longer than I probably expected to. Despite its frightening, creepy-crawly protagonists, I found Deadly Creatures to be both charming and endearing.

While it's not the deepest game, it's got enough in the way of modes, including the fairly tough Global Challenge Mode, to keep players going until the next FIFA installment next fall.

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.

There's no denying that this is going to be another enduring feather in the cap of one of the most exciting strategy game developers since the heyday of Microprose and SimTex.

Wii owners finally have the Tiger Woods game they should have had six months ago.

Volition did a great job with Saints Row 2, so it's a shame that the PC gaming segment won't be able to experience the game at it was meant to be played.

You can make the argument that a videogame needs more action, but instead of building up any suspense that leads to action, the game beats you over the head with the action to the point of desensitization. That might work for a generic mob game, but when you slap The Godfather label on it, that raises the standards a bit.

The biggest complaint I have with The Sum of All Fears is the mission design. In a word, it's dull. For a game so short, I found myself playing 45 minutes at a time and stopping because the game couldn't hold my interest.

The one-player puzzle quest is a disappointing throwaway, and the strategy of the multiplayer mode is too chaotic to be entertaining, but the core gameplay remains simple, solid fun.

The Gladiators isn't a bad game. Indeed, it's quite challenging and entertaining in many regards. However, just that like the B-movies that were its inspirations, that's all it is.

A great expansion that keeps the flavor of the original, while adding new gameplay changes that remove much of the original's micro-management.

Just like some of its zombies, this game lacks meat.

A great game, with a great fantasy storyline to boot.

Just don't let the complete lack of meaningful gameplay depth come as a shock.

Underneath the stylized art and strong anime-bent of Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation lies a glowing core of light strategy gameplay with some very gratifying customization elements.

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.

The problem is that NetDevil really needs to improve on the social aspects of the game; as it stands now, it's more of a "massively single-player game" than anything else.

A promising game with some big technical flaws, but in a few week's time it's sure to replace your "EverQuest" addiction.

Everyone who enjoys video games owes it to themselves to try these titles at least once. If, however, you enjoy arcade reflex contests where you play for high scores, this will be perfect for you.

I liken it to a big, dumb, friendly guy: an affable, warm-hearted chap that you'd be friends with in real life even if he doesn't offer any useful insights or advice. Reliable, trustworthy and true: that's Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits.

MMORPGs fans will find plenty to like with Horizons. Its crafting system is unmatched, getting your own place is a nice perk, and busybodies will love the multitude of quests.

A solid, competent shooter, one with a unique presentation and a story just intriguing enough to keep you playing through the end. The simplistic combat, generic design and savegame oddities keep it out of the realm of greatness.

It's difficult. Which isn't a problem in and of itself, it was difficult before, only now it's also unforgiving.

With its easily whipped arcade sequences, utter lack of strategic depth, and painfully unrewarding still-screen ending sequence, DotC provides an experience about as vacuous as the cheesy flicks that inspired Cinemaware's birth.

I can't help but admire the beauty and power crammed into this game. Aside from a few minor online quibbles, you'd be hard pressed to find a better, enjoyable racing game to dig into this holiday season.

Visually, however, it stumbles terribly, as it's not a particularly good-looking game, although its framerate could be a lot worse.

Mushroom Men has a few flaws, but it's still an enjoyable game. The platforming is solid, the premise if fun, and it has fantastic art direction. Hopefully we'll see an improved sequel in the future.

A fun, straightforward shooter in WWI clothing, and while the 200+ missions inevitably become repetitive after a while (despite frequent changes in visual scenery), the bracing dogfight sequence and multiplayer modes are always entertaining.

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.