Strikingly similar to CoD4 in many ways, while offering enough variety to recommend it to anyone who might be growing tired of last year's game. Although the campaign storyline isn't nearly as engaging as the one seen in CoD4, there should be enough memorable set pieces and intense sequences to keep you riveted throughout.

Suffice it to say that if you enjoyed the first Rainbow Six: Vegas, then you will undoubtedly find considerable value in Vegas 2.

Although its campaign has some plot twists that are mind-boggling, and there's no pretense that the ending is a bonafide cliffhanger, it's engaging, even if the narrative fails to explain some of the big story hooks. Competitive multiplayer is bigger and more brutal than its predecessor. Most importantly, co-op multiplayer is an absolute joy to play. Ultimately, however, it's the role-playing elements, such as experience points, that really enrich the experience.

This title feels like well-executed design by committee. It's got visuals that scream next-gen, and some cool weapons, but the overall lack of extensive environmental interactivity makes the title feel a bit like a "PS2.5" game more than a PS3 game.

Last year, Take-Two won the Stanley Cup of NHL games hands down. With NHL 2k6, Take-Two is on its way to win the championship one more time.

The franchise's signature elements are all here: driving, flying, action, stealth, and style, all done consistently well.

It's the best in the series so far and a harbinger of great things to come. Honest.

Chariot of the Dogs may be missing the satirical edge of earlier Sam & Max episodes, but the funny certainly won't disappoint long-time fans of the Freelance Police.

My highest recommendation: Though I'm done with my review, I'm far from done playing. In spite of my early kneejerk dismissal, I can't get enough of this crazy little unregulated dystopia where you can get heavy assault weapons delivered to your doorstep.

If you're interested a day-by-day re-creation of what is arguably the most dramatic decade the world has ever known, presented in a staggering amount of detail using a complex and sophisticated simulation that affords all sorts of freedom for hypothetical situations, then you won't want to miss Hearts of Iron II.

For those of you who haven't gotten into the Balance Board yet but still want a taste of the carefree life of the world's preeminent pro snowboarder, Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip won't disappoint.

With Guitar Hero 5 Neversoft has finally found its "confidence." An assured nature to the game's new visual direction contrasts with the see-what-sticks "extreme" visual stylings of its predecessors, and with several new game modes Guitar Hero finally bests its direct competitor in ease of use and friendliness, in many respects.

A great compilation of two fantastic games made even better with online multiplayer. Toss in a bargain price tag and fighting fans get one heck of a deal.

It tries really hard to please both jaded vets and exuberant fanboys, and for the most part, it succeeds, even if the story mode's a little short and on the easy side.

It's difficult to say whether or not Skate 2 is better than the original -- it lacks that game's moxie and swagger. It's no longer that up and coming superstar that demands your attention. This time out, it's more comfortable with what it's doing, and it achieves its goal of reproducing the feel and culture of skateboarding exceptionally well.

Some will take Urban Chaos at face value and feel good inside with the game's many nods at the every day heroes of Americatown, USA. Others will take in the game's blatant sensationalism and wonder if it's not-so-subtle satire. Regardless, Urban Chaos: Riot Response is lots of fun, and merits a look from anyone who enjoys shooters.

Tetris DS does a remarkable job of reminding us why Tetris was so great in the first place, and it gives us tons of extra reasons to love it as well.

Sprinkled with humor and nods to gaming's past, The Binding of Isaac is a ballsy game that revels in its absurd moments. Shock value aside, you'll want to play this indie gem over and over again. It's imaginative, utterly absorbing, and the best five dollars I've spent all year.

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

After finally learning and understanding the nuances of the game, I was hooked on one of the deepest GBA titles available. The game has its flaws, but the plusses clearly outweigh the minuses.

All about the thrill. Whether you're immersed in a tense, low-speed cat and mouse standoff, praying you don't nail a spike strip at 200 MPH, or simply drinking in the carnage you hath wrought, you'll find little else like it.

DDR freaks have bemoaned the removal of the ultra-difficult Oni mode, but the inclusion of user-editable nonstop courses of up to 20 songs each, which can also be used in the Workout mode (yes!), more than makes up for it.

The multiplayer more than covers the bases, though, as Strikers will join Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Super Monkey Ball series, and the Mario Party games as one of the 'Cube's best titles for armchair warfare.

While NCAA Football 2005 could still use a bit of a graphical overhaul, and the running game still needs some help, the additions of Homefield Advantage and the Matchup Stick really add a lot to the game.

In the end, though the mini-games may have their flaws, the true beauty of Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators is how all of these disparate elements fit together into an almost seamless whole. The more the player gets into the Space Rangers universe, the more enjoyable the whole thing becomes.

The hero's newfound voice adds an emotional impact and resonance that the original game sorely lacked, and I genuinely wanted to see Isaac conquer his inner demons nearly as much as the outer variety. In such an intense game (one of the most intense I've ever played), it's funny that the quiet moments were the one that really stood out.

In fact, the entire game seems to be pushing the GBA to its limits. This is arguably the best looking GBA game around, with all sorts of scaling, rotation, parallax scrolling, and all sorts of neat, SNES-caliber effects.

The game's many layers reveal themselves in a steady, satisfying progression that keep the game fresh, interesting, and most of all, flat-out-fun.