Has a unique visual style, an involving storyline, and several dozen hours of intensely immersive gameplay.

In some ways, Guitar Hero: On Tour feels more like an experiment than a full-fledged game, as if Activision just wanted to see if it could be pulled off. Whether or not it succeeded is open to debate, as there are a number of issues that hurt the game.

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.

The controls are tighter than they are in the 360 version and you will dig the Spook Meter, but the less impressive graphics and a clunky genetic-based leveling-up system may leave you wanting.

The difficulty level may have been cranked up a little too high for the average gamer to enjoy the single-player experience, but the robust multiplayer component of the game helps to make up for it.

Dedicated and studious players might be able to look past the limited information on how to play if they're familiar enough with the genre and don't mind learning by trial and error, but less patient newcomers will be left on the proverbial sidelines.

Despite all that's good with the game, NHL 2K8's innovations are a few years behind the times, making it feel like a cheap rehash of what's already available.

Combines great gameplay with entertaining characters and extremely pretty visuals for a surprisingly fun gaming experience.

Some nifty gameplay mechanics and nasty enemies keep it from being an also-ran, while a little too much repetitive exploration and a short story keep it from being a contender.

The experience of playing this game can be roughly compared to swimming through a pile of sewage to get to a diamond ring. There's a great game buried in the coded-up wreckage that comes out of the X3: Reunion box; it's probably not worth the effort to dig for it, though.

Takes a questionable franchise and turns it into something somewhat entertaining. Although it might not be as much fun as watching Gene Simmons and his famous tongue parade wildly around the stage.

If you don't own "Opposing Force," get it. If you do, then don't expect a repeat performance.

Anyone playing P.T.O. IV is much less interested in graphics than gameplay, and P.T.O. IV delivers heapin' helpings of the latter.

For the most part, Wario World offers little above and beyond the standard 3D platform romp, and what is offered turns out to be very short and repetitive. That's not too say that the game isn't fun while it lasts, because it is -- I just wish there was four times as much to crack.

An excellent example of a "slacker" game: it gets as little done as it can while making sure it fills its quota so it can be out the door for the day. There isn't a thing new here and it makes no attempt to improve the genre.

I'm left wondering who Lego Rock Band is really for. It seems to be trying to cater to everyone, but it ends up simply unfocused, and occasionally outright sloppy. It doesn't actively offend, but it's nowhere near a must-have, even for serious music-game fans.

At around 10 to 15 hours, The Bourne Conspiracy isn't exactly a brief experience, but its addictive and gratifying combat can certainly make it feel so.

A great game... that you should be playing on another system.

The brevity and ease of its single-player campaign and the lack of substance in its multiplayer combine to make for a relatively unsatisfying experience.

The least impressive title in the Legacy of Kain series.

A beautiful example of how Maxis' long-running series can renew itself and even become appealing to console owners. There's plenty to do, a lot to discover and even when everything is done players can decide to stick around the islands and keep tinkering.

Of course, the combination of sim and action game is sometimes a bit jarring, making the game seem like it doesn't really know what it wants to be. Regardless, Thrillville is a fun game, and if you're a fan of sim games on the PC, this would be a good way to introduce the genre to a child or younger sibling.

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!

There are dozens of different match types to explore, functioning online multiplayer, and many different ways to customize your experience. The downside is that if you're looking for that next great leap off the turnbuckle and into your living room, you may instead have to settle for a pretty satisfying leg drop to hold you over until next year.

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.

There isn't much replay value, and not much else to make F1CS2000 stand out as a racing game.

If you've enjoyed Zoo Tycoon so far, you should find plenty more to like in Marine Mania.

Outbreak would have been a much, much better game had it had online voice communication. There's simply no excuse for omitting this feature in a game hinges on being able to communicate rapidly between party members.

These games probably should have stayed buried in the time capsule from which they were pulled.

Thanks to a mission-based, narrative design, fine control, and slopes that have a darker atmosphere, Dark Summit really manages to set itself apart.

Like an interesting tech demo with a sometimes tedious and frustrating game built around it.

Offers a lot more to fans of the sport than anyone else, but the overall variety in the game still leaves something to be desired. If you're really into this kind of subject matter, add about 15 points to my score.

What it misses is the nuance, the charm and the challenge that marked both the original games and the best of the Diablo clones (such as Titan Quest). In short, Sacred 2 is a game that's easy to miss without really missing out.

A second-rate adventure title with some good puzzles tacked on to a poor story.

You're much better off getting the Xbox or PS2 version of this one. This one wasn't made for the PC originally, and it shows.

The gameplay leaves a lot to be desired. The singing engine itself is par for the course, but the motion-sensing mic as noise-maker and the implementation of Star Stream are huge annoyances that hurt the experience more than they help, especially if you're a big fan of karaoke games. Although Lips tries to transcend karaoke games by doing something different, it's ultimately hobbled by a foundation of mediocrity.

Sure, Digimon World DS isn't the most original game out there, but it's still a pretty fun title.

It's interesting that in this batch of baseball games, the owners of current-gen systems, specifically Xbox and PS2 owners, end up getting the more stable, and ultimately more enjoyable version of this game.

It's a polished, evolved, and strangely addictive game. Sure, it's looking a bit rough and never gives you the visceral thrill that charging through the battlefield in the "Dynasty Warriors" games offers. Of course, some of us have discovered the more cerebral joys of managing troops from the background.

Though it could be viewed at first glance as a warmed-over port of a middling PSP title, DJ finds new life on the Wii through its tight control scheme and clever writing

There are some minor gameplay issues, and the weak multiplay -- with no online gaming -- hurt the overall game, but the single-player story is strong.

The brevity and ease of its single-player campaign and the lack of substance in its multiplayer combine to make for a relatively unsatisfying experience.

Sure, there are a few problems, but it's worth, say, dealing with the busted camera to see which videogame the writers are going to parody next.

The initial thrill of zipping around high above Wuhu Island's tropical terrain in full 3D fades well before you exhaust the meager amount of activities woven into the two main modes. What you're left with after that point is only a couple hours of flight time to breeze through -- assuming you feel like milking every last drop of fun hidden in these limited depths.

If you like genre-benders, sure. If you like naval combat games, definitely. If you get bored easily or don't care for the setting, save your money.

If you enjoy RTS games, prepare to be stunned with an intuitive interface, rich atmosphere, and great gameplay.

Stylish and sophisticated.

About as challenging, fun, and multi-dimensional as an overhead aerial combat game can get on a handheld system.

What it offers is sufficient, but it is not going to tear someone away from the likes of "Project Gotham Racing" or "Gran Turismo 3."

The complexity might have changed its appeal, but there's a lot of entertainment value in there.

One of the most tedious, poorly-conceived 3D platform games that I've had the displeasure of slogging through. That said, it doesn't screw up the technical stuff.

There's really no reason to go back and replay it. I have to admit a certain amount of nostalgia in the early going, especially as I remembered cool parts of the game, but that's not a compelling reason to fork over the bucks for this remake.

Whether you'll like Ar tonelico or not is dependent on how much of a sucker you are for a cute damsel in distress. These aren't helpless girls, mind you, and your relationship to them will provide the bulk of enjoyment that Ar tonelico has to offer.

But don't let those flaws keep you from trying this Vietnam War shooter. At its best, it's an immersive, intense game, filled with pulse-pounding action and diverse missions.

If you just want more stuff, you'll probably be satisfied with it, but if you were hoping for a strong animal-themed expansion pack, Wild! is more gelding than stallion.

The online performance still has a lot of kinks, often making it tough to join games. It can be difficult to experience the game properly as a functional squad. Still, Chromehounds is a game that has a lot of potential.

Just about everything that hampered the original is back to do the hampering again. There are some strong spots, but the constant repetition will drive you kookoo.

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.

Even if horse racing doesn't sound too thrilling to you, Gallop Racer 2001 is still worth a look, as it's a fun game on its own merits.

Too simple for its own good, yet somehow likable in the end.

It's very derivative, and beyond a few puzzles requiring you to use all four characters in tandem, there's not a lot that's new here. At the same time, it's mostly enjoyable while it lasts.

It's a shame that Freedom isn't playable online, and there are a few awkward and unforgiving gameplay elements that hurt the overall experience, but determined hunters will find this quarry worth pursuing.

Hoffman is a decent game in it's own right, or would be if it didn't have to live up to the fluidity and re-playability of the excellent Tony Hawk Pro Skater for the GBA.

A very well done strategy game that suffers from, of all things, an overload of story and linearity.

A mixed bag. The innovative level design and variety keep things interesting, but it's over far too quickly.

If the development team had poured half the creativity and personality into the setting, character, content or story as they did into the fighting and looting, the game might have become a modern-day classic. Instead, what comes out of this Hellgate often feels a little underwhelming.

And while the occasional AI problem keeps the game from reaching its full potential, Worms: Open Warfare still manages to never stop entertaining.

Curse of Darkness is often a lot of fun in its own right, but if you're not the kind of player that can tolerate "grind"-style gameplay -- and indeed, often thrive on this -- then you might get bored here.

Eragon isn't trying to outdo Final Fantasy, it's borrowing enough of its good ideas to put together a fairly deep and satisfying adaptation of the movie, and if you can forgive a lack of meaningful innovation, it does a pretty good job of it.

An excellent game that disposes of traditional cheap RTS tactics, and instead rewards clever, direct action.

Crappy story and occasional boring moments aside, Bionic Commando is a good game, akin to a summer popcorn flick. It won't stick with you, but it'll certainly entertain you. When the action amps up it feels awesome; it's just too bad that those moments couldn't have comprised the game's entirety.

For a lot of players, the excellent graphics and high levels of violence and sex appeal will be more than enough to keep Bloodrayne 2 spinning. It's really a shame that the A.I. is so daft, and even with all the acrobatics, the very linear levels don't truly captivate.

The real issue here isn't so much that Armageddon is a mediocre game -- which it is -- rather that it's such a letdown after its excellent predecessor.

Season 2 will help satisfy series or genre fans' lust for collecting things by virtually golfing, but by failing to add a satisfying online experience to the game -- the first game's real weak spot -- 2 is more expansion pack than true sequel.

A giant leap ahead of "Most Wanted" and probably nudges "Underground 2" as the franchise's top title for the DS.

Only the most hardcore Tetsuya Mizuguchi fans will be able to put up with Gunpey's repetitive gameplay for long.

Silent Hill: Homecoming is a very strange game, as its dual nature and oddly unsatisfying gameplay could likely turn both fans and newcomers away.

If you are from the era when Falco was considered cool and "Return of the Jedi" had just been released, then I heartily recommend this game to you.

It should be noted that patience is a system requirement for BITAW. Missions can easily take hours to complete.

The story continues to simmer nicely if unexcitingly in Outbreak, but it's finally and truly dawned on me that we are paying Bandai $200 for one game. Yeah, I knew that going in, but the extreme lack of improvements from volume to volume is going from merely irritating to downright exploitative of the fans.

It's fun as a chat room, but has a lot of growing to do as a game.

This is, without a doubt, one of the creepiest, scariest, downright disturbing games I've ever played … and yes, I mean that as a compliment.

It's not trying to complete with "Half-Life 2" or "Doom 3", but if the plan is to entertain and freak players out, it's mission accomplished.

You'll have to look to multiplayer to get the greatest enjoyment from Jungle Storm.

If you're a wrestling fan with a sense of humor, a love of Japanese absurdity, and modest expectations, Ultimate Muscle: The Path of the Superhero is definitely worth your time.

You can instantly tell that it was born out of corporate necessity, not creative passion. It's a game without a soul, thrown together to "fill a niche" and "target a demographic."

With four-players in tow, it's a total blast, but for those that are looking for some solid, non-anger-inducing solo play, you'd do well to swerve away from this one for sure.

If you've been off the Dynasty Warriors wagon for a while, this may bring you back. It offers some new depth and motivation to fight lots and lots of stupid bad guys, and should keep a smile on your face until the next inevitable sequel.

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.

As enjoyable as each of the single and multiplayer additions are (and they're quite good), the whole package comes off like a collection of mods the developers were tooling around with in their spare time. The original game is as great as it ever was and Tales of Valor certainly doesn't take away from that, but ultimately this "expansion" pack comes off as a modestly enjoyable diversion.

It's refreshing to see an original portable game, but Scurge: Hive has some serious problems; mainly, the obnoxious time limit and frustrating enemy fights.

The real issue with Nervous Brickdown is that it finds itself bound to the Breakout formula. There are some very cool, very well-suited to the DS mini-games here, but you're always fundamentally bouncing a ball and trying to make sure it doesn't slip past you.

Sweet in that the title boasts a massive, fully destructible environment with an impressive arsenal of weaponry and some really fantastic and innovative multiplayer. Sour in that the single-player experience grows repetitive and boring over time, and the broken vehicle mechanics really drag down gameplay.

It looks amazing, sounds great, and most importantly, it's a lot of fun. What's even more impressive is that all of this entertainment is offered at such a reasonable price.

With its functional 2D graphics, its independent developer, and a design that favors gameplay over graphics, Air Command 3.0 is clearly one from the old-school.

Though the appeal wears thin a lot more quickly, it still has some thanks to the large amount of content and just the overall polish and humor of the game.

One of those frustrating titles that showed promise, but is brought down with a few nags that could have been prevented. But even with its gaffs, it's still mildly addictive.

Being able to explore Hogwarts as not one, but all three of your favorite characters is, as Ron would put it, brilliant. But older gamers will find little challenge in the game's simplistic block puzzles.