If you're a number-munching automotive aficionado with a penchant for judging games the way an accountant judges a financial portfolio, know that this is a racing game dedicated to the act of racing rather than the actors, more intent on refining the experience of driving rather than celebrating car culture with scads of vehicles.

Even with its somewhat anemic multiplayer, Colin McRae Rally 2005 is one of the best rally games on the market. Anyone who enjoys the idea of frantic racing in harsh conditions owes it to themselves to check it out.

Anniversary is a great way to relive the original feel of Tomb Raider; just don't expect anything more.

It's got more than enough fast-paced action to give gamers their adrenaline fix, and it does it with all sorts of visual style.

Although it's certainly not for everyone, Bangai-O Spirits is a well-made and extremely challenging game. It's great to see Treasure revive this title, and it works surprisingly well on the DS.

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.

Thank goodness for the battle system, then, because it saves the game while you're wincing through the saccharine banter and waiting for the training wheels to spin off.

Unadulterated run-'n-gun goodness. Future Perfect is packed with so many features that even the most jaded FPS fans will find something they like on offer; decimating everything or hosting a multiplayer kill-a-thon, this game can accommodate all comers.

With levels that build on each other in terms of complexity (and, thusly, difficulty), the game inspires that kind of "just one more level" feeling of addiction that may result in you freeing Dan from his insomnia but earning yourself a nasty case in return.

The accessible nature of Borderlands -- with its relatively non-punitive deaths, constant checkpoints, and convenient fast-travel systems -- makes it a fantastic game for introducing FPS fans to some basic RPG tropes. And, most importantly, the killing and looting never ceases to be fun.

The physics and graphics are better than they've ever been, but the AI, lack of features, and out-to-lunch rosters make it tough to globally recommend.

It's bigger and better in almost every way. If you're looking for a blood and guts 3rd Edition role-playing game, Icewind Dale II fits the bill perfectly.

It's hours and hours of challenging flying; a must for fans of WWII planes or armchair aviators looking for something new and special.

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 qualifications -- short length, lack of replay value, and control issues -- knock the game down value-wise, even though I think anyone who's attracted to quick, violent squad play will have a good time.

Without question, however, Echoes of Faydwer seems to be paving the way for the EQII of tomorrow, and that is no small feat. If you've been curious about the game, this is without a doubt the best place to start.

It's okay to be a little wary, but unlike the previous poorly conceived anime-based games you've played, this one's the real deal.

A disappointment. It completely breaks with the first game in everything but gameplay, and even that is sabotaged by annoying, repetitive level design.

I have to play a lot of games at this job, so when I tell you that I'd rather play Crackdown than just about anything else on my 360, I hope that carries as much weight as I intend.

Even as it stands now, EverQuest II is extremely fun to play, frequently rewarding, and designed with just the right amount of user convenience in mind.

Undisputed includes all the main MMA disciplines and fighters, along with a career mode that I can't stop playing. That's enough to keep even the most critical fans happy.

Online play is a very enticing part of what Madden brings to the table this year.

It plays great, has all the online options you could hope for (though more lag than you'd like), gives us a few really cool new ways to play, and wraps it all up with slick presentation and admirable audio.

There's an awful lot to do in Picross DS, but given the addictive nature of the puzzles, don't be surprised if you plow though the puzzles in a couple of weeks. The downloadable puzzles and custom puzzles will keep you busy for a while longer, but the fact is, you'll want more.

One of the first absolutely must-own titles for the PS3. While the graphics are undoubtedly amazing and manage to outshine the 360 version, especially in the exclusive first-person mode, it's still got the same problems as the other game, and more.

While Spider-Man 2 has some issues, nearly everything is outweighed by the fantastic web-slinging and the huge city environment.

Gorgeous aircraft models painstakingly rendered down to the smallest of details.

A great game franchise gets an even tighter engine. Frustrating AI may turn off some players, but this is still the best tactical shooter available.