Compared to the barebones, disappointing release that is "Death Jr.," Konami comes back with the rebound, offering players a solid title that's simple to play and enjoyable for gamers of all ages.

The game's cartoonish nature and over-the-top attempts at humor may ward off prospective players before the game is able to redeem itself.

A textbook case of the gameplay taking a backseat to the graphics... Auto Modellista's biggest problem is still the poor control.

The game's events are portrayed with such stark realism that sometimes after playing I almost felt like I had experienced the events alongside the characters.

While it's a serviceable MMA game, the UFC series has been dusted by "Pride FC" for PS2.

Playing NFL Head Coach and having a good time while doing so is a daunting task, one far more challenging than taking the Browns to the Super Bowl.

Legacy is a promising development for fans hoping the franchise's third installment will feature a return to the tactical gameplay of Dragon Age: Origins. Unfortunately, it's a bit too late for Dragon Age II, and Legacy's legacy is as a $10 reminder of the full game's shortcomings.

These diminutive mechs pack a strong punch.

Although MechAssault: Phantom War isn't necessarily the worst game to ever pop up on the DS, it's pretty close to the bottom of the pile. The poor controls and bland graphics are a far cry from everything that made the original MechAssault game on the Xbox such a success.

While there are some nice, new touches -- most notably, the improved controls -- the game's lack of depth and less-than-cutting-edge presentation make things seem incomplete.

A very mixed bag. The graphics will swing from impressive to tolerable to utterly nauseating in a split second, the customization options are almost nonexistant but offer a very quick and easy entrance into the game.

It’s got average graphics and average level design. This game is as average as games can get.

It is one of the sharpest looking PS2 games out right now, but the lack of actual gaming content leaves it with an overall mediocre feel.

Unfortunately, desktop crashes, the need for money and carrots, some annoying sound effects, and a few frustrating puzzles mar what could have been one of the better adventure games to come out in years.

But the 360 version's clunky control scheme and savage technical problems bring the game down, and none of the key issues from the PC release have been changed. The problems here don't outweigh the fun, but the margin is very thin.

1) It's not flashy; 2) It's not easy; 3) There's not much of a reward waiting for you at the end. So as long as you're okay with Myst throwbacks in all their staid, obtuse non-glory, you won't be disappointed.

Ultimately, playing the game makes you wish that the developers had spent more time refining the command system (or finding a decent cast of voiceover artists).

The dueling is fun, and it's even available as a multiplayer game. Unfortunately, you need two copies of the game to take advantage of it.

A severely flawed game that could have been far better had it undergone further testing. The freeze bug is absolutely crippling and has even caused retailers like EBGames and GameStop to reduce the amount of money they'll offer for the game in trade-in value.

Unfortunately, the creators of Rise of an Empire have managed to make a Settlers game so narrow in scope and so lacking in player control that it's only slightly more interactive than dropping fish flakes in with the Neon Tetras.

RealMYST really is a great game. If you enjoyed the original, you'll be transfixed by how the worlds have changed yet stayed eerily the same.

The control scheme and bugs are by far the worst parts of the port, though they're not the only rough spot. Graphically, the game holds ground better.

Strong concept, weak execution. Add in the dated look of the game, and numerous bugs and glitches new and old, and Honest Hearts isn't worth the $10.

Trek fans are meant to salivate at the sights and sounds of their favorite universe made manifest, like a dog hearing the chime of a chow bell. And publisher Atari is banking on the hope that -- like Pavlov's pups -- consumers will be content with the same ol' kibble day after day. The result is a shallow, poorly paced, and repetitive game that, divorced from its storied source material, wouldn't warrant a second look.

It's too bad that the action-packed feel of the sport hasn't been captured with this release.

It's easy to see the potential for King Arthur 2 to have been a good game rather than "not bad." But it never gets there, mostly because it's doing a half-dozen unrelated things at once, and none of them very well.

For those EQ players who are looking for a new addiction and were disappointed by "Anarchy Online," Neocron might just fit the bill.

Sluggish graphics bog down what would have been an otherwise great title.

Not only is it not equal to NHL 2004; on nearly every level, it's a step backwards. In the end, there's no reason whatsoever to "upgrade" to this new version, and that's the most damming thing you can say about a sports franchise.

What could have been a shining example of spooky fun ends up being Microsoft's answer to Nintendo's "Luigi's Mansion"; like that game it takes a well-tested team and results in a short but attractive and spookily cute game with strange play mechanics that never quite works right.

Despite the addition of the 6th Man Mater and some improved passing and shooting aids, this year's version of College Hoops seems tired.

If you're over six years old, you have no reason to check out this game, but it would make a good gift for a daughter or younger sister.

Gearheads who lust after things like a shiny new HKS Turbo will probably have fun tinkering with their fleet. Anyone else will fast become furious over dropping fifty bucks on this game.

Simply put, this isn't anywhere near as entertaining as any of the "Resident Evils" or "Silent Hills," but it's no "Blue Stinger," either.

A run-of-the-mill shooter with just enough to keep it interesting.

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

Right away I can tell you that if you played the first one, your opinion of this game will more than likely be the same.

An overpriced PC conversion of a gimmicky console game. The gimmick is its offensive fire system, which allows the heavily armed protagonist in this third-person shooter to fire around corners and use cover as a tactical asset.

Atari needs to be willing to lay down some bank to polish up the graphics and sound, write a much more compelling single-player adventure, and add some online goodness.

It's possible that the very touchy controls and high learning curve on many tracks may keep some players away, but there's a great racing engine here.

But while there may be an uneven touch to it, the various game modes and a well-executed cel-shading technique save it from being a dud.

Fans of Eiichiro Oda's comical pirate epic will certainly get the most out of the game, but if you like chaotic action and bizarre characters, just about anyone can enjoy it.

The Sims 2 Pets expansion pack could be a good purchase for PC gamers, but buying it for $39.99 on consoles is the kind of choice that will only satisfy the kind of people who keep a place for their cat at the dinner table.

A painful reminder that all the authenticity in the world can't help when the game is completely unpolished and the core gameplay is weak.

Maybe in the next generation of consoles, I'll be able to immerse myself in the pretty graphics and forget I'm playing the same damn game yet again, but not this time.

Considering the multiplayer aspects are the brightest spots of Sniper, it's asking price of $50 feels about $10 too high, but it's something I'd definitely consider come sale season.

Tries too hard to appeal to all types of racing fans, without ever feeling like a complete experience.

What the game is simply doesn't match up to what it could have been.

Although it has a few noticeable flaws, there's nothing so bad that game stops being a lot of fun to play. At worst, it just gets a little frustrating at times.

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.

This GameCube port has a few new features that the PS2 version didn't, like a few new stages and skill capsules, but you can't escape the fact that the game is already a year old.

The additional content added to the original PSP game (including a series of enjoyable bonus challenges) makes it a stronger game on the PlayStation 2, but it doesn't have the feel of a true sequel.

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.

The biggest problem with Battle Network 5 is the same thing that has plagued all the other sequels in the series: it's just too darn much like its predecessors.

Freespace 2 this is not, but even with its frustrations, Strike Suit Zero is an anime inspired shooter with its balls against at least two walls. It's dumb, possibly dumber than it intends, but it's also the kind of action you're not going to feel bad for enjoying.

Fans of the American Conquest and history buffs can look forward to more grand battles on a truly epic scale. For everyone else, there are plenty of better RTS games to play.

It's not nearly as good as "Ace Combat 4," but it's enjoyable enough to tide you over until the next Ace Combat game.

As is common with games from Square Enix, the story of Heroes of Mana (while maybe not terribly original) is surprisingly deep and emotionally engaging. While that doesn't completely make up for the tragic pacing of the game or the substandard AI, it at least provides something to motivate the long-suffering Mana fan.

Accurately modeling the features that have made this series so endearing and capturing the action from a surprisingly workable viewpoint, it's a tremendous traveling companion for anyone with a taste for adventure.

Less varied but deeper gameplay would have been the way to go. While the variety of different gaming styles is initially a kick, none of them end up being very memorable.

Gamers who may be looking for a deep adventure should consider Enclave. While there are a few graphical elements in the game that could've used a little more studio time, there are just as many gameplay elements that enhance the game.

It's a good overall game, but could have been a refreshing title had it redirected its focus and gone all out in either direction -- sim or arcade.

It's obvious that Nakazato wanted to create a Contra that was inclusionary to newbies, instead of exclusionary. In that he's succeeded. The only problem is that Neo Contra's average difficulty level will have the opposite effect, and turn off the old-timers. It's too bad, as a simple difficulty selection could have helped correct this.

What's here is good stuff, though, and even if it never got another piece of content Forge would pull its weight.

Deprived of a decent storyline, innovative mechanics, and limited variation in either enemies or environments, Too Human is barely worthy of a weekend rental.

Fans probably won't be bothered by being forced to muck through the multiple load-screens or unskippable cut-scenes, but gamers just here for the action may find these elements too much to bear.

More than most other genres, if an adventure's core narrative foundations aren't solid enough to carry the rest of game, everything else is meaningless -- and Yesterday's is a story built on matchsticks and marbles. To play it is to see it come crashing down.

Overall though, FIFA 08 feels like a game that tries to please several people, and instead, pleases a very small minority.

It may not be hanging out in the rarified air that Madden and Sega's ESPN game breathe, but it finally deserves to be on the same playing field as them.

If your'e looking for an off-the-wall spot of multiplayer fun, WDL may be just the ticket. Otherwise, you may want to rent before plopping down 50 big ones.

With its weak story, dull combat, and host of annoyances, Children of Mana just isn't very much fun to play. Multiplayer can be enjoyable, but most of the time players will be going solo, and will be quite bored doing so. The game as a whole just feels pointless.

Of all the versions of Tiger Woods 08 this year, the PS2 offering is the weakest, as development is clearly focusing on the next-gen consoles.

Thanks to the huge amount of customization options, this game offers much more depth of gameplay than what's found in your average fighting game. If only so much tedium wasn't involved in accessing all of it.

If you can't get enough Portable Ops online, Ops + is just about worth it for the extra character limit. For everyone else, save those pennies and dimes for MGS4.

Afro Samurai is a mess of a game. It's such a shame to see such a beautifully rendered and stylish world ground into the dust by such staggering gameplay foibles and technical glitches.

AGH lacks the polish we've come expect from Treasure games. It's a good game and a better brawler, and the unlockable bonuses are excellent. However, all these little factors add up to a feeling of rough incompleteness, as if Treasure was forced to ship it two months before it was ready.

The ultimate battle game to ever hit the PC. So many of us enjoyed playing the original version; well I promise you that the original, though fun, was tame compared to this.

There's a ton of new goodies to like -- new races, new gameplay options, a trading economy model and new interface options. It's certainly a good game, but now the dilemma before me was whether I preferred the original game or its sequel, in terms of interface and game play.

An interesting twist on the empire-building genre, but a lack of polish keeps it from being truly great.

A great concept marred by exceptionally bad implementation. A game that is impossible to recommend to anyone, for any reason.

It's well worth your time to play through, if only for the motorcycle and gun turret scenes, and some of the more freakish weirdoes to cull later in your romp.

If you're an action game fan and you want something that you can pretty much jump into and play without having to pore over a manual -- and you need something to occupy your time while you're waiting for those other, bigger games to come out -- BEA is a good candidate for your time.

Any gamer below the age of 12 will enjoy The Muppets: On With The Show. The game is fun, cheap, and re-playable.

A blisteringly fast racer for one to four players with bizarre tracks, edgy characters, and exhilarating action.

This game feels like it could have been so much more if it had a better damage system, more single-player and multiplayer modes, and a new story mode to get familiar with the characters, and even take advantage of the TV show theme a bit more.

A beautiful RPG marred by numerous bugs which render it nigh unplayable.

Gretzky '06 piles up some new features, does a better job of tracking franchise info, and has the AHL license for minor-league teams. It does not, however, come close to equaling the on-ice fun of "NHL 2k6" or "NHL '06."

Hopefully Bond's next foray into the gaming world will deliver an authentic and compelling Bond experience, not just a decent but too-short shooter with some fancy window dressing.

3DO's High Heat 2003 will be more fun over more time, but if you like your games as pretty as a lingerie model, Triple Play's cup runneth over.

Although it's not a perfect game by any means (I don't think we've found one yet), it's old-skool fun at its best. Lock and load baby -- it's time to save humanity one more time.

For fans of the series who want to test their sleuthing, Dark Motives is a no-brainer. On the flip side, anyone not connected to the idiosyncrasies of the series should look for crime elsewhere.

A game with simplistic fighting and a tedious unlocking system, but it's a polished and faithful presentation of Dragon Ball Z with a fair amount of content.

The basic gameplay elements from Spore's creature stage have been expanded upon in Spore Creatures, and if you're looking for more of that, you'll be quite pleased by this attractive little adventure.

The game has no replay value, is too flawed to be a worthy addition to your collection, and can be easily finished in a little under 2 hours. It could, however, give you a fairly entertaining afternoon’s worth of gaming.

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.

From the shoddy AI, to the animation and controls that make it seem like you're always playing on mud, U.S. Open fails on an amazing number of levels.

Even if its technical issues were resolved, you'd still be left with a flawed, boring game design that fails to capitalize on the inherent coolness of its theme and character.

The interface problems are enough to keep Journey To The Center Of The Earth from being a four-star game, but fans of point-and-click adventures will find plenty of puzzles and story to make it a game still worth buying.