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.

If you're looking for a profound single-player experience, you'll be annoyed by the issues with the artificial intelligence, but if you plan to play with a friend, this game is well worth checking out.

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

Anatomically incorrectness notwithstanding, Barnyard is a perfectly fine family-friendly film tie-in that you won't absolutely love, but has plenty to like anyway.

Once you get past its unsightly graphics and need for a gamepad, you'll find that Indigo Prophecy is one of the more refreshing and unique titles released in years.

The game has its weak points, and there's nothing strikingly original about the gameplay, but it's definitely an interesting experience for action gamers looking for a unique atmosphere and story.

From start to finish, the game only took me just over eight hours to beat. And while there are some cool extras on the disc that can be unlocked, I still felt like the game was light on content.

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.

During its best moments, it's certainly one of the most exciting and engrossing games I've played in a long time. It's just unfortunate that the apparent cut corners take the wind out of its sails sometimes.

In spite of framerate drops, inconsistent online multiplayer, and other serious issues that weigh it down, there's little doubt that the five games in this package exude Valve's attention to detail and show off the developer's talent for making great titles.

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.

Even with the minimal use of DS technology and the glaring gameplay omissions, Drill Spirits is a very fun game. It's definitely not the deepest game out there (and no, that wasn't meant to be a pun), but the simplicity is what makes it great.

I really liked the game when I got over the controls' initial crazy learning curve, but after a while, my overall interest began to wane.

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.

The display method the game uses looks bad and the extras are a bit underwhelming. It's a good collection, but those shortcomings bring it down a bit.

Battle of the Nations is a phenomenal way to stoke the nationalistic fire of the competition in gamers around the world, but it's shutting down the day after the tournament.

The key syllable is port. Prince of Persia: Rival Swords sits alongside games like "Star Wars Battlefront 2" and "Tony Hawk's Project 8" as ambitious versions of great console games that still come up short.

Rugby lovers will love how far this franchise has come since last year's version.

Lacks the full-on rampage of other action titles. "Halo" this is not. Combat is almost a throw-away sub-feature, and it shouldn't be.

Little extras like item invention, a multiplayer arena, and Battle Trophies round out the package nicely, and keep things fresh.

Luckily, the space content is very much on point when comes to aesthetics. If you're a Star Wars fan, you're likely to be delighted by the sights and sounds, even seven hours into a TIE-killing grind.

On one hand, you can't ignore the game's various shortcomings, the lack of editing tools and failing multiplayer. But on the other hand, it's hard to dismiss a game that eats up late night hours faster than G-String Diva reruns on HBO, leaving you desperate to finish a campaign mission at 3AM before you pass out.

It should be noted that the team got a lot of things right, particularly in the graphics and gameplay departments. While the first PSP game in the series has a few issues, it's still the only game in town.

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.

Force Unleashed may not be the mind-blowingly awesome "Star Wars" game that it was hyped to be, but thanks to some cool play mechanics, a great story, and a couple fun extras, it's still a fun (if flawed) ride.

A huge step in the right direction in combining the hands-on experience that the system is known for with authentic baseball gameplay. There are still plenty of kinks to work out, and next year there will simply be no excuse for omitting online play or the ability to update rosters because the roster that ships with the game is painfully out of date.

The whole thing is very goofy, funny, weird, and cute... If you're looking for a fast-paced, simple fighter with appealing graphics and an unusual sense of humor, Zatch Bell! is definitely worth your time.

True to its manga roots, there's plenty of goofy dialogue and eye-popping artwork alongside a surprisingly robust boxing engine.

It does well what it means to do: provide some action-packed amusement for a younger crowd. Yet if you're an old-school parent grabbing it for your kids, you might want to sneak some time in too, as long as you don't expect anything more than light entertainment.

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.

Force Unleashed may not be the mind-blowingly awesome "Star Wars" game that it was hyped to be, but thanks to some cool play mechanics and good use of the Wii Remote it's still a fun (if flawed) ride.

A good game for kids. Since that's the target for this title, then it gets higher marks than it would otherwise.

The addition of the First Touch system makes the gameplay much more fluid, and it encourages you to improvise more often. Armchair managers will love the new career mode, one of the best you'll see this year.

Digging Strike's simplistic gameplay is both an asset and a weakness. Fans of old school games will really enjoy this lighthearted update, but gamers looking for deeper gameplay will be disappointed.

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.

A really solid "beer & pretzels" strategy game.

Lousy AI balancing and assorted cheap tricks constantly remind you that it's never quite a fair fight; the designers are always lurking behind the scenes, ready to pull the rug out from under you at any time.

Dark Legend's fun, I just don't think that a person with considerable skill at games will find it all that challenging. Still, if you want a good, humorous story, and are looking for something to entertain you (albeit briefly), then Dark Legend is among the better choices for the Wii.

The controls are an interesting hook. Actually slugging it out with your targets by swinging the Wii Remote and nunchuk is fun, and the shooting elements are handled well by making the pointer aspect of the Remote a "precision targeter," rather than your sole firearms control.

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.

Once you get a few levels into the game, you start to see the purpose and role of each weapon, and Constantine encourages you to think strategically about how to take down enemies.

The off-the-wall humor is wickedly pointed and the characters are simply hilarious; the gameplay is deep and engrossing but clunky and far too close to what the developer's been doing for the past several years, just more so.

The most painful realization will come to owners of "College Hoops 2K6," who will be hard-pressed to find a major improvement in the core game, outside of the roster update. It's hard to justify paying full price for such a similar game.

It's a fun, competitive multiplayer shooter that stands alongside its paid sibling. Now if only more people would learn to play the damn thing.

Even with its foibles, it's a darn good time. It makes you want to play again. It continually induces high-stress profanity. It forces you to improve -- and with time, you do.

It will both entertain and educate you about the basics of magic. It would have been nicer if the selection of tricks was more balanced, but overall it's another cool use of the DS.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 is an impressive new direction for the franchise, as it features a way for players to become directly involved with the other side of professional wrestling: the storylines. Sadly, I've been unable to find a playable match online, thanks to severe latency issues.

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

Maybe not all of the ideas came together properly, but at the end of the day it's a fresh and interesting game. Hopefully, Liquid will get a chance to perfect the formula in a sequel.

The ability to show the climb from rookie to respectability is -- and I'm speaking from experience -- both ambitious and accurate. It's also a good example of grassroots development in a genre that really suits it.

SBCGfAP is packed with little extras and mini-games, although none provide more than a few minutes of diversion. The real fun is discovering all of the inside jokes from the series plastered throughout.

Rest assured that the whole feeling like a cybernetic bad-ass is fully intact in this five hour adventure.

Starting with "Lament of Innocence," it seems like Konami is inching ever closer to creating the 3D Castlevania game that we've been waiting years to play. Curse of Darkness is an incremental step in the right direction.

If you can bear some of the repetition in between missions, the missions themselves are a blast. The environment is among the most compelling ever put on a screen this year. And multiplayer is strong. Far Cry 2 may not live up to its full potential, but there's a lot here to enjoy regardless.

While Stitch never provides more than a mild challenge, it's thoroughly entertaining.

While Civilization Revolution does a great job of introducing the concept and gameplay of Sid Meier's classic PC series to the consoles, it falls just short of true greatness due to a lack of depth in the AI and multiplayer options.

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.

Pales in comparison to the beloved PC games. On its own, however, the game is an enjoyable, if unspectacular, first-person shooter.

Though support for the Wii's new Zapper can't quite make up for the fact that the on-screen reticule is never quite where you want it to be, and the dollars-per-hour ratio would give any gamer pause, Medal of Honor Heroes 2 boasts enough polish and design acumen to be worth an expensive few days on the front lines.

Nintendogs is good, but after the novelty of the voice recognition wears off, there's just not a lot to do.

The animation is slick, and there are many appreciable smaller touches, but it's also tarnished by repetition and technical issues. If you've never been a fan of the series, this installment certainly won't change your mind. However, if you're a die-hard fan who was disappointed by Spider-Man 3, Web of Shadows should be right up your alley.

People who play mostly single-player games and aren't interested in scenarios won't find much new stuff in Warlords. At the end of the day, the expansion pack brings some great new stuff to the table. We just wish Firaxis could have taken some chances and offered us more of it.

Multiplayer combat is quick and brutal, but straightforward and really nothing to get too excited about. It's really the single-player mode that shines here.

The generous helping of missions and otherwise familiar and entertaining RTS action are commendable, but poor AI, limited maps, and some interface problems hamper the gameplay.

It's no modern-day classic, but Barnyard is still a good choice for young gamers, with a nice unhurried design somewhat reminiscent of "Animal Crossing."

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.

I can say that if you're tired of the preoccupation with the omnipresent emotion of "fun" most games seemingly need to contain, and like the idea of an experience which garners actual thought, you would do well to give Trauma a look; just remember that what you'll find will depend entirely on what you're looking for.

Granted the Road Trip mode can get kinda frustrating and boring, but experiencing the various levels and checking out the behind-the-scenes video footage is almost worth the aggravation.

I hesitate to call it a nice try, because in some ways it didn't even really do that.

There's still something addictive about this game once you get past the initially slow start. There are dozens and dozens of things to unlock, and charting your progress through the title really sucks you in.

Galleon is some weird sort of Tomb Raider+. It recaptures the elusive feeling of exploration and adventure felt in Tomb Raider, while greatly expanding on its running, jumping and climbing gameplay.

Only truly hardcore fans will need to own their own copy; as competent and polished as it is for the genre, it's also a throwback.

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.

The best thing that can be said about Cars is that it lays down solid racing gameplay without feeling generic.

As much as I'm a fan of the DBZ series, if I was to choose between this title and a King of Fighters title for the GBA, I'd choose the latter without batting an eye.

Some of this is good, some of this is utterly boring, but there sure is a lot to do.

The real problem is the werehog stages. Luckily, those levels aren't bad, they're just kinda there. About all they succeed in doing is slowing down the action between the stages that you want to play.

Even the slightest mistake can lead to an instant beat down from a swarm of CPU-controlled gang members. The aggressive A.I. is relentless in its attacks and, especially later in the game, will easily frustrate even the most hardcore fighting fans.

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.

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.

Turns out to be a well-made game, but is so blatantly unoriginal that it may actually inspire resentment in players who are tired of the same old thing.

Aside from these few relatively minor negatives, F.E.A.R. 3 is a very solid shooter that covers a lot of the right bases -- I just wish the developers had put as much imagination and creativity into the single-player campaign as they did into coming up with new multiplayer modes. And, you know, actually made it a bit more scary.

Few things in this world will compare to the sort of manic glee that arises from sighting an enemy worm, targeting it through a gun's scope, and then pausing to watch the intended victim cower in abject terror.

While it features an innovative, easy-to-use melee combat system and some interesting campaigns, it's ultimately hurt by boringly repetitive side missions and some underwhelming environments.

Aside from these few relatively minor negatives, F.E.A.R. 3 is a very solid shooter that covers a lot of the right bases -- I just wish the developers had put as much imagination and creativity into the single-player campaign as they did into coming up with new multiplayer modes. And, you know, actually made it a bit more scary.

There's not enough new content to justify re-buying Creed if you own it on a console, but the PC-exclusive content is a nice touch -- as are DX9 and DX10 support, and an overall solid technical quality to the port.

Yet even with some new features, you get the sense that gameplay isn't very different from what the series has shown since its debut.

What we actually have, though, is something more in line with what the original should have been that ends up being less compelling for its lateness.

A mixed blessing. It's got some fun and elaborate puzzles, although some get a tad too elaborate to manage at once. Also, certain parts of the gameplay mechanic, such as the responsiveness of the touch screen while steering Mini-Marios around, don't function as well as we would have liked.

Aside from these few relatively minor negatives, F.E.A.R. 3 is a very solid shooter that covers a lot of the right bases -- I just wish the developers had put as much imagination and creativity into the single-player campaign as they did into coming up with new multiplayer modes. And, you know, actually made it a bit more scary.

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.

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.

Pushed to the extremes of an MMORPG, even the commendable highs of its unrelenting focus on combat run out of steam long before you even reach the level cap, and that's a terrible fate for a game that otherwise shows so much promise.

Apart from the poor dialogue, Dissidia is a largely enjoyable game, although its attempt at shoehorning in a wide variety of RPG elements (including the mystifying ability to create equippable items by performing certain combos in battle) to an otherwise action-oriented fighting game ends up being confusing.

Rocks the 80s feels like it was slapped together with as minimal an effort as possible. A $50 price tag only adds insult to injury, as it's arguable whether it's even worth half that price.

It succeeds as a conversion. It succeeds as a more mature racer. And it succeeds as a pure shot of vehicle-fueled adrenaline that you can take anywhere.

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.

Despite its technical problems, Yakuza 2's story really kept us coming back for more. It's fantastically paced, constantly dropping teasers to keep you interested in what's going to happen next.