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.

Various elements of the game are solid -- graphics, combat, mini-games -- but they're dragged down by the mediocre adventure elements, unsatisfactory controls, and borderline-obnoxious load times.

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.

The PS2 version of the game looks and sounds much better than its Xbox counterpart. And the game's multiplayer implementation is some of the best yet on the PS2.

Right out of the gate, Spider-Man 3 is going to smack you in the face with some of the worst next-gen graphics you have ever seen.

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.

Unfortunately, what starts off as a fascinatingly fresh idea eventually breaks down. For all the compelling aspects of building your empire, the game's strategic model is actually pretty shallow.

The lack of multiplayer is a real bummer, and the last-gen visuals are hard to get excited over, too.

It has a simplistic hand-to-hand fighting system, a jerky, broken camera, crappy, jarring level designs, and horrifically frustrating platforming elements. It pretty much just fails at emulating the combat-heavy action games that have inspired it, and you'll constantly remind yourself of this as you play.

One of the most impressive elements of the Xbox version of Earned in Blood was the AI (both your enemies' and that of your squadmates). Alas, the PS2 version of the game just can't keep up, and there are bugs and glitches all over the place.

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.

While there's some fun to be had with Mario Party Advance, and quite a few great game-playing aspects, it's a bit tedious and tired when you look at the slew of other excellent multiplayer games have been released for the GBA.

Even though I cursed and swore my way through the bulk of the game, the characters and the story moved me in a way that very few games do. But, epic disappointment or epic tale, it definitely earns its name.

For a tennis game, TS2 is surprisingly deep. On the other hand it can also be frustrating as you realize that your player is simply outclassed by the AI.

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.

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

It might as well have been published by AT&T, because this is the most phoned-in sequel this side of a football game.

When all is slashed and looted, Radiata Stories is an unremarkable RPG whose stabs at innovation end up feeling rather inconsequential. It's perfectly playable and is not a bad game, but it lacks any real hook or draw.

The Treble mode is an excellent touch that adds twists to the usual Manager mode. The visuals look solid for the system, but online play is a total mess and is probably not worth your time.

One of the first fun Sonic experiences in some time. The overall experience of navigating through Sonic and the Secret Rings doesn't manage to bring the series back to glory, but at least it gives it some life.

If you're willing to devote serious time and effort to a harsh and unforgiving series that jealously guards its goodies from the uninitiated, there's a chance you could pick up Lost Raven and eventually get into it.

A generic racer with worse-than-generic graphics.

In many ways, the controls are dead-on, but the awkward shooting controls hamstring the action.

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.

All the ingredients were in place, and the resulting concoction isn't totally worthless, it's just that between the freaky game design decisions and poorly thought out content, this is a meal some gamers may not have the stomach for.

Night Watch's main element -- combat -- is fun and engaging, especially once the characters reach higher levels and have more options. But to call it an RPG is a bit disingenuous, because you truly have very few options to individualize the characters, and the story continues in a linear fashion.

It would be best to describe Operation Flashpoint: Elite as a simulation instead of as a game, since the essential elements of video games have been overlooked in this PC to console release.

In the end, City Life is a credible first try at a city-builder for Monte Cristo. The game's emphasis on social engineering and urban harmony is a nice addition to the genre, and if the player is willing to dig through the messy presentation, there's some fun to be had here.