A weird uncomfortable reminder that computer games aren't really ready for this sort of explicit sexuality. Until it can be handled with a more nuance, I'll stick with the implied "Sims" stuff, thank you very much.

Bleach: Shattered Blade fails in many key areas. However, we'd be willing to overlook the dated graphics, horrid voice acting, wonky controls, or lack of depth if the game was one thing: fun. Hopefully Bleach diehards will enjoy it, because most players won't.

There's ostensibly a big game in here, but it gets old quick, so your best bet would be to borrow FIFA Street 2 from a friend rather than drop any dough on it.

Granted, the snappy graphics are pretty boss, even in standard definition (and you'll notice a difference if you use an S-Video cable instead of the plain old composites), but that's just not enough to warrant the label next-gen -- not when you've got a machine as powerful as the PS3 flaunting its Cell processor.

Another problem comes in how Conflict: Vietnam handles aiming. Whenever I drew my weapon in first-person view, a bulky rifle sight popped up and took over a good chunk of my screen. Making matters worse, the sight proved to be completely ineffective.

While initially exciting, the thrill of the speed will wear off within the first hour or so, leaving you with a poor arcade racer that's neither exciting enough to last beyond the initial play nor realistic enough to provide the depth of a real racer.

Won't hold up to extended play anyway because of the too-small question set. It's a shame; it's a well put-together game otherwise.

Mutant Nightmare, while wholly competent, goes down like pabulum and possesses all the (as the kids are wont to say) mad flava of boiled water.

Alone in the Dark seems to hold open contempt for its players...You've seen survival horror done scarier and better elsewhere. Don't get burned by this one.

X2 has a number of unforgivable problems. Most noticeable of all is the difficulty level, and in turn, the frustrating nature of the gameplay.

Poor framerate, small cast and moves, and poor replayability among other issues. "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater" sells millions for a reason -- this just isn't it.

For the hardcore this game won't be much of a "whirl," but younger gamers might find it amusing -- at least for a while.

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 mere shadow of its Xbox counterpart.

Altair's Chronicles occasional control speed, framerate, and camera issues make us think that this would have been a superior game in 2D, but no one's returning our calls about making classically-influenced 2D platformers for the DS.

Regardless of whether it's been done before and arguably done better, the game is reliable and solid fun.

If you judge TMNT on its own merits as a platform-hopper with a dash of semi-imaginative combat thrown in, then it's a fine game.

Think about building up the biggest, most elaborate base you can imagine in an Age of Empires game. Now imagine it takes four times as long as any other RTS game on the market. Then imagine that all this elaborate building leads up to a strategy portion that would have seemed primitive and simple back in 1997 when "Age of Empires" first came out.

It's a curiosity worth a rental -- before the Xbox Live population drops to zero, as it quickly does for so many second-tier games. You just might be able to overlook its flaws and find the button-mashing fun.

Far from a bad game, but it seems content with being merely adequate, and nothing more.

You'd have more fun watching both movies than playing this game.

This admittedly impressive-looking title ultimately proves to be less than run-of-the-mill, in terms of the actual gameplay and battle dynamics.

Something of an introduction to the world of game making. In other words, it presents some of the fun as well as most of the painstaking and sometimes tedious work that is involved.

Stay far away from this street ball disaster.

Obi-Wan might have been a good game on the last generation of consoles, but it's too confused, rough hewn, and repetitive to stand up against Xbox games like "Halo" or even "Azurik."

We have to admit to being a bit disappointed at how similar Star Force is to the Battle Network games. We were hoping that Capcom would take this opportunity to reboot the series into something fresh. Instead, we have more of a sidestep than a step forward.

A competent port of an iffy game in a good series, and the only game in that series available for Xbox. If you absolutely want some SamSho action and don't have a better alternative, then it's probably worth a purchase.

For most people, that's exactly what Lost in Blue 2 will be: a complete waste of time. But for a small audience of those that enjoy insurmountable challenges and crushing defeat, Lost in Blue 2 will fit the bill nicely.