I've played my share of games, and none have made my fingers ache like Lowrider. I like games of timed button-presses, but this feels too imprecise and button-mashy.

Wisely priced at 20 bucks, and its historical info alone makes it a must for anyone with an interest in video-game lore, but not one of the included games is anything more than a mild curiosity.

The saber play is great fun, particularly in multiplayer, and the variety in the single-player game keeps it entertaining as well. Next time we'll hope for a new graphics engine, but for now, the Force is definitely with the Academy.

Unfortunately, it's a mostly uninspired affair, trying to blend several easy-listening game styles, but ultimately never quite hitting the right notes.

Despite a lack of polish and the ineptly presented storyline, Kya: Dark Lineage had enough fresh ideas and fun scenarios to keep me pluggin' through to the end. It's not the prettiest game out there, nor the longest, or the coolest. It is, however, fun and original.

While this is certainly not a huge title and there's little innovation, I must admit I enjoyed it.

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.

I wish the multiplayer offered more, as it would no doubt extend the title's replay value. The single-player experience is enjoyable, if not revolutionary.

Forget it if pure action is your bag, but fans of MGS-style thievery owe it to themselves to check this one out. Just keep a couple of puke bags handy if you're a little emotionally sensitive.

It's not perfect, but it's got enough unique style to create thirst for a follow-up.

The FPS's non-stop arcade-style shooting is a fun break from a wave of "press yourself flat against the wall and look around the corner" sneak-around titles, but the clunky third-person fighting you have to do to take down the level bosses is goofy.

There's a name for what this game is; it's just not typical to console games. That's "expansion pack." And expansion packs don't cost full price. Sure, FFX-2 gives you another lengthy quest to play through, but it’s just not up to par with the best games in the Final Fantasy series.

The best PC RPG of the year, and possibly one of the best RPGs I've ever played...It's got that obsessive/compulsive quality that keeps pushing you to solve just one more quest, to finish one more task, to go up one more level just to see what new stuff you can get.

The longevity factor makes it a rental for even vaguely experienced payers. On the other hand, as a young player's introduction to gaming, I-Ninja is nearly the perfect tool.

About my only complaint is that it's over too soon -- just an hour, without mistakes...It's unmisssable for anyone who wants to take a space-age vacation from the typical.

With its intuitive, intense gameplay and rich atmosphere, Secret Weapons Over Normandy is the best flight-action game for the PlayStation 2.

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.

It goes halfway towards inventing a new genre, but it can't decide whether to invent the action-RTS or the tactical-fighting game, so it ends up just awkwardly defying any sort of established gameplay conventions.

Offers a unique racing format and getting to keep track of your defeated rivals definitely adds an addictive "gotta catch 'em all" quality to the thing. The negatives -- questionable driving physics and some less than state-of-the-art graphics -- are easily outweighed by all the game has going for it.

A game that combines the micromanagement of "Civilization" with the intrigue and politics of "Diplomacy," adds in a "Railroad Tycoon 3"-style dynamic economic and resources model, uses a layered interface ... and then somehow expects you to manage it all in real-time.

A clunky, junky licensing disaster.

Possibly the best game currently available for Xbox Live. Conversely, the single-player game offers very little gameplay and thus the title will likely not be too attractive to offline gamers. But what the game sets out to achieve, it achieves quite well.

Its synthesis of control, design, graphics, and scores of real-world cars cannot be beat. Winning the war against "Gran Turismo" is not going to be done by a game that shamelessly apes it; PGR2 has its own style and own aims, and to my mind is the more appealing of the two.

While the combat's a bit bland and the challenge could stand to be higher, the fact remains that Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a wonderful rebirth of a classic franchise.

With all this going for it, it's a shame the single-player game is so humdrum.

A capable, attractive little robot in loads of bullet-riddled action. It's challenging and twitchy, with enough variation to keep the most distracted player hooked for the duration.

A spirited romp, with some very basic but fun play initially, but it eventually wears thin. Its success with an individual depends entirely on how the humor strikes them. While this is certainly not a huge title and there's little innovation, I must admit I enjoyed it.

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.

The game has improved -- most notably by including some very thorough online abilities -- but not to the degree that the EA and Sega games have.

While I wish the multiplayer offered more, as it would no doubt extend the title's replay value, it's just not exciting enough given the current number of quality online action titles on the Xbox. The single-player experience is enjoyable, if not revolutionary.

Great stuff, with the most intense dogfighting and most spectacular production values I've ever encountered in a flight-action game.

The tracks and tricks are interesting enough that it's worth taking the short time the story mode occupies, and creating a huge chained negative reaction is always good for a laugh.

A wonderful rebirth of a classic franchise.

It's not perfect, but it's got enough unique style to create thirst for a follow-up.

If you don't mind the repetitive enemies with bad AI, the poor save-game options, and a lack of weapon variety, then the Warhammer flavor might be enough to warrant a look. For most people, however, Fire Warrior is simply a mediocre shooter at best.

If MMORPGing sounds like it might appeal to you, then you'll not be disappointed with Frontiers. It's a solid online RPG experience that works very well.

The best old-school adventure gaming to hit the scene in years.

A fantastic racer for those that want tons of cool customizations and huge single-player challenges, but gamers looking for a more traditional arcade racer might need to approach NFSU with the following in mind -- it's tons of fun, it looks amazing, and it's best on PS2, but be prepared to witness a perceptive lack of variety, and one huge-ass single-player challenge.

It lacks some major features you'd expect, but this arcade racer still offers an immersive career mode, a beautiful presentation, and an insane sense of speed.

It's challenging, the graphics are beautiful, and the gameplay is easy and accessible.

My disappointment in this disc's shortcomings is tempered by the sheer amount of great, classic gaming on offer.

An incredibly deep game whether your playing alone or online.

There's a core game here that could've been very enjoyable had it been paced a little better.

Most Bond fans will still prefer dusting off the old N64 for a few rounds of "GoldenEye," which remains the undisputed king of 007 games.

But if you're one of those RPG players who detests games that require you to do anything more than navigate menus, or if you were hoping for some genuine innovation from Nintendo, Superstar Saga will have you barking up the wrong mushroom.

The story and the protective guardian concept both work. And developer Neverland did a brilliant job with the game's controls. The ability to do so much with so few buttons is astounding. The game snags when it comes to the clunky and unrealistic movement of the characters.

The action is intense and the missions are just enough extra. Give me a little smarter targeting, some NPC allies every now and then, a little less stealth, and I may be willing to award this game's sequel with a medal of its own.

The Xbox is blessed with being the most technically advanced version, but the PS2 takes the edge with its online gameplay and visual trickery.

The game's Achilles' heel is its lack of any online play. But if you're more about the single-player game than about smacking some faraway Kansas or Duke fan, it's hard to find much not to like.

It's not the most original game this year, but it's one of the best you'll play on GameCube.

Gamers looking for a more traditional arcade racer might need to approach NFSU with the following in mind -- it's tons of fun, it looks amazing, and it's best on PS2 due to the online portions, but be prepared to witness a perceptive lack of variety, and one huge-ass single-player challenge in order to get the most out of the game.

Unlike many console-to-PC ports, it's clear that the developers loaded up the PC version with as much high-res art as possible, which looks even better than the Xbox version.

Perhaps the best brawler on the Game Boy Advance, and a good nostalgia trip for Double Dragon and beat-'em-up aficionados.

Chronicles has some of the most unresponsive controls I've experienced in a long time.

A very good single-player game, and a brilliant online game; Ubisoft's streak of Xbox greatness continues.

You'll have fun fighting in Defiance, and feel lucky, because it happens quite often. But if you've been following the series, you'll also know that it's quite heavily reliant on aimless wandering and boring box puzzles.

A tour-de-force of imagination, an electronic window into a fantastic world that exists in only our consoles and a creative French guy's mind. I greatly enjoyed my time in that world, and my only real regret is that it was over so soon.

Barring the terrible control scheme, the single-player version of URU: Ages Beyond Myst is a solid adventure title. Beautiful graphics and sound, fun puzzles, and lots to read and learn about the D'ni makes for an atmospheric game. But the lack of the advertised multiplayer component is a real disappointment.

The look of BR4 is seriously behind the curve. The single-player game is lackluster and the multiplayer, while the most exciting way to mix it up, is still just a button-mashing endurance contest. The game's "guys turning into animals" gimmick is the only thing going for it.

Almost a full-fledged sequel in its own right. Not only do you get the full original game, but you also get a new campaign with a more than respectable amount of game time, new spells, treasures, monsters, and improved interface options.

So much presentation and bulked up features, with nothing of substance underneath.

A cookie-cutter, linear romp through the sweatier, jungle-infested portions of the Pacific conflict that's sure to almost satisfy fans of the series (especially those craving a split-screen co-op mode -- it's in there!), but leave pretty much everyone else shortchanged; especially in the graphics and gameplay department.

To my surprise, Insomniac was able to add just enough tweaks and twists to last year's formula to turn a somewhat generic-feeling character action game into something that actually holds my attention...Not the ultimate platformer, but it's definitely the best one coming out this holiday.

For every innovative new feature, there's a gameplay gaffe or design flaw that drags it down; it's certainly better than last year's hyperactive NBA Live 2003, but it's still a year away from being something truly special.

A very good RTS, and anyone who complains that it lacks the depth of a PC RTS is entirely missing the point.

With a slow and chunky multiplayer component, there's not much reason to jump into the driver's seat.

Red flags like the frustrating controls, uneven flow, and the lack of voice-recognition capability present in its other games make it appear that this one was rushed out the door in time for the season.

NOLF fans will likely find it lacking most of the series' charm, and as an action title, it feels strangely unpolished, falling victim to any number of basic problems.

After playing through this excruciatingly awful game, it is a safer bet that you're better off loading up an old game like "Stronghold" or the aforementioned "Age of Kings" instead, because even with its bargain basement price, Crusades offers no value.

Its battles are enjoyable enough, and series fans will be pleased with this adaptation of the Onimusha mythos. But in comparison to everything else on the market, the game falls short in comparison.

Isometric platformers are just not the way to go; the tasks are monotonous; the level design is pathetic; and Bugs Bunny without jokes is like Arnold Schwarzenegger without the accent.

The play mechanics are literally all wrong. Depth in character building doesn't matter when you wish your character would just take a wrong turn and fall off a cliff and land on some very sharp rocks.

Hardcore gamers will be put off by the lack of depth in the arcade sequences, and casual gamers will be put off by the degree of challenge in the strategy sequence.

It has most of the gameplay options and technical competence you'd expect from an A-list publisher, but it never once engages you on an emotional level.

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

So much presentation and bulked up features, with nothing of substance underneath.

You'll have fun fighting in Defiance, and feel lucky, because it happens quite often. But if you've been following the series, you'll also know that it's quite heavily reliant on aimless wandering and boring box puzzles.

Beats "Tiger 2004" in exactly two respects: prettier graphics and Live support. Every other category goes to Tiger in a Governor Ahnold-esque landslide.

Extra grainy footage or not, and lame returns to the campaign to dig up cheat codes aside, this Medal of Honor experience is just good enough to romp through on a rental, should please fans of the series, but this is certainly not enough to justify a purchase.

Once again, GameCube owners are left out in the cold with a version of a game that's mildly inferior to its hardware rivals.

A great-looking PS2 game, with good character models and beautiful environments. However, the one flaw in this gem is its framerate, which can bog down in moderately busy melees.

Its look and feel is too juvenile for adults, and some of its challenges are too difficult and frustrating for kids. Even rabid Tolkien fans won't care for the game, thanks to its translation of the classic novel into a lightweight, cartoonish platformer.

A schizophrenic but enjoyable combination of gameplay styles, and it's worth slogging through the solid Sphinx segments to savor the Mummy magic.

A fun action game, but at its heart, it still feels like a year-old console title. There's no multiplayer, and the action is frequently interrupted by multiple load times.

May not grab you in the same way it did on the consoles a few months ago, but if you're obsessed with the sport and/or don't have your PS2 or Xbox near you, this version is a good way to fill that gap of boredom in your day.

A schizophrenic but enjoyable combination of gameplay styles, and it's worth slogging through the solid Sphinx segments to savor the Mummy magic.

A schizophrenic but enjoyable combination of gameplay styles, and it's worth slogging through the solid Sphinx segments to savor the Mummy magic.

Mario, get with it -- get hipper, get slicker, and get as good as you outta be. Right now, you're phoning it in.

If there's a lesson to be learned from Pax Romana, it's this: give us all the finger-licking detail you can pack in, but don't ruin it with a poorly conceived interface. It sunk "Master of Orion III," and it sinks Pax Romana in the final analysis.

To play America's Army is like slipping into a fascinating experiment. As players come and go, you're witness to riveting displays of heroism and cowardice, brilliant tactical bluffs, and awesomely awful blunders.

This expansion is everything "Play The World" should've been and will breathe a whole new life into your Civ experience.

It's a huge improvement over the first title in nearly every area. In fact, it nearly makes the first game obsolete.

EA really needs to perfect FIFA's control as much as it needed to make a better career mode. The old developmental mantra is gameplay first, options second. Still, what it gives us in 2004 is a solid and entertaining package.

An entertaining and beautiful beat-'em-up that puts just enough of a spin on traditional gameplay mechanics to get the thumbs-up.

When a game plays this poorly, authenticity doesn't save it. Rugby 2004 stinks of repackaged horror from the dawn of 3D gaming.

It's one of the finest crossover titles I've ever played; mainstream gamers will enjoy it for its excellent use of the movie license, sharp visuals, and easy-to-pickup gameplay, but it also has enough challenge and variety for hardcore players to soak up.

A highly polished and very enjoyable action title that, while not the equal of its console counterparts, is still a terrific action game on the PC.

As simple as these games sound, you'll likely break a sweat trying to wipe the screen clean in "Wishi Washi" or keep up with the Samba de Amigo-esque "Beat Freak."