Every bit better than the original, and in many shiny ways. The multiplayer is a blast, it looks great, the game modes are expanded exponentially over the first, and the game dances on the fine line of being fairly realistic without being too over-the-top crazy.

Far too hardcore to serve as an introduction to the genre, but fans of the genre are in for a treat once they accustom themselves to the game's mind-bendingly unique and tactical paradigms.

Mercenaries 2 is a lot of fun if you don't get bogged down by its rough-hewn minutiae and relish the simple pleasures of blowing things up.

Culture Shock marks a great (if not perfect) start to what will hopefully be a long run for the pair.

A much better game than the original.

This reality has its ups and downs: there's nothing new besides graphics, but it was a stellar package to begin with, but the online is super laggy.

Purists may scoff at some of the on-road physics and the ability to play with time, but there aren't too many games that deliver as intense of a racing experience.

Undoubtedly, the worst thing you can say about Path of Radiance is that it's a bit drab in regards to aesthetics.

Fundamentally, FIFA on PS2 hit its peak somewhere around FIFA 06 or FIFA 07. With FIFA 09, there are a few new features designed for hardcore players, but hardly the many bells and whistles of years past.

The real reason to get the game is to follow Wallace and Gromit through another madcap adventure across the English countryside. In this, the game delivers in spades by capturing the essential good natured humor of a strange little man, an even stranger dog, and the really strange situations they stumble into.

Things may not be perfect this time out, but I do my best, and my reign ends on my terms. I make a beeline for the New Game button, vowing to stick to my proven playbook from the get-go.

All of the blasters sound different, as do the game's vehicles. It's a deeply immersive game in a lot of ways, and you'll actually feel like you're in the middle of a huge battle when in first-person view.

The Dynasty Mode is one of the best you'll see in an EA game, mostly because of the addition of the discipline system, which forces you to walk a fine line between getting the best players and running a clean program.

Granted, the concept of staring at a screen full of black and white squares for minutes on end looking for the correct line to draw may not sound like the most exciting game out there, but for those who appreciate a good mental challenge, it's a treat.

1701 A.D. seems to have struck a nice balance between strategic depth and user friendliness. The game's challenging mix of building management and trading presents a truly enjoyable challenge.

There are some minor gameplay issues, and the weak multiplay -- with no online gaming -- hurt the overall game, but the single-player story is strong.

A remarkably fun and addictive game that, while not without its flaws, is brimming with enough charm, good humor, and depth to keep gamers occupied for a long time. The bad news is the game has a problem with relaying information to the player that is, at best, annoying, and in one case, almost brings the entire product crashing down.

An improved story, questing system, and plenty to do means that if you were a fan of the original and are in need of some good hacking and slashing, you should pick this one up.

What's really nice to see in this installment is that Telltale finally seems to have gotten their groove on with the game's length and puzzle structure.

A rare breed of FPS these days, as it's both high in quality and uniqueness. The mechanics of "Deus Ex" work tremendously well in a high-intensity atmosphere.

It's a little thin on game modes, but the career mode is a kick, as is going head-to-head against a buddy or two. There are far worse ways to spend your summer.

Its original problems are still there, but they're more than made up for by the amount of fun to be had in the main quest line. In its current state, the expansion is already fun enough to justify the $30 purchase, and, like the original, we're sure it's only going to get better as time goes by.

A great RPG with an unorthodox design. There are amazing design elements here. The art and sound direction are unmistakably original, amplifying what could be the game's best asset -- an incredibly active and technical battle system. There's a lot to like, but at times the game is bolder than it is balanced or practical.

If you're into WWII shooters -- and judging by the sales of every single Call of Duty title ever, you are -- but you're looking for something with a little twist to it -- which, judging by the sales of twisty straws, you are -- and you don't mind the color green -- and judging by the number of Irish people in the world, you don't -- you should get yourself a copy of Wolfenstein.

By itself Open for Business may not be a must-have, but paired with "NightLife," the two packs together will probably add hundreds of hours of gameplay to the series. Running a restaurant, building a trendy nightclub, creating a megastore, opening a cozy little coffee shop -- these kinds of challenges will keep you entertained for months to come.

It's a brilliant-looking game, developed by the artists at Square Enix, and it's great fun to boot. Just be ready for something quite different from the NBA.

Even the hidden cards, which seemed like a lame gimmick at first ended up being a, well, pretty cool gimmick. If you're a fan of Contra and its ilk, you should give this one a try.

American McGee has always had talent for crafting some truly original stories, and thankfully, Scrapland is no exception.