Despite the relatively minor faults, Ape Escape 3 is a heckuva lot of fun, and continues to live up to its two predecessors.

Despite the fact that Madden still has its warts and its share of oddball design decisions, this is the best version of Madden in years -- and the PC showcases it more than any other platform.

The game's minor tweaks here and there do a lot to smooth out some of the weakness from before, and the new gameplay features add just enough to the game's familiar formula to make things interesting.

Age of Conan going forward should become a delightfully savage second home for plenty of howling on-line barbarians.

The difficulty level may have been cranked up a little too high for the average gamer to enjoy the single-player experience, but the robust multiplayer component of the game helps to make up for it.

I can't help feeling that the Super Monkey Ball franchise was made for the Nintendo Wii. The tilt control feels far more intuitive than using analog sticks to direct the motion of your little encapsulated simians, and it works wonderfully.

Between this and MM9, it's clear that Capcom's cybernetic mascot's still got some kick. I don't know about you, but I could do with annual 8-bit meat-grinders from now until 20XX.

The easy difficulty setting and lighthearted tone might cause older gamers to scoff, but there's no denying that Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is a quality game that the whole family can enjoy.

Between the mini-games offered and the challenge of facing lots of different opposing styles, online remains an attractive diversion.

Fans will get a huge kick over how well it recreates Harry's world. I know a lot of multiple system owners are wondering if they should get this version of the game or go for the "prettier" versions. It's a tough call, really. The Wii controls are quite a bit of fun, but the 360 and PS3 versions looks quite a bit better (although the Wii version certainly doesn't look bad).

The story is more interesting and coherent than Halo's narrative has ever been, and the environments make the game feel slightly different at times, in an exciting, challenging way. That said, I wish Bungie had taken it even further; playing as the titular ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, essentially the Halo universe's version of a special forces unit) made me feel like they missed some opportunities.

If you love physics puzzlers -- and, more importantly, don't mind one helluva challenge -- I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better option on XBLA.

Throw away every pre-conceived notion you may have about games involving music mixing, as Frequency is not only strong in its fun factor, but intensely addictive as well.

A worthy, entertaining addition to the Half-Life saga, even if it's a little more inconsistent than its predecessors. It's got plenty of the action, puzzles and set pieces that's made the series so successful to date, and that formula hasn't been tampered with.

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.

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.

The puzzles themselves are very well-done. They aren't outrageously difficult by adventure game standards but they're very organic to the game's unique worldview and can be a bit challenging to those not used to the complete disregard for linear thinking, logic and classical physics that characterize Sam and Max's world.

MX vs. ATV Untamed isn't the greatest motocross game ever, but it's so much damn fun that you probably won't care. Note to Rainbow, though: fire that janky, poorly rendered blonde you have carrying the sign before races and insert some live-action shots of two beauties in your commercial. You'll sell way more games.

It's might not be the best role-playing or real-time strategy game on the market, but when combined, it makes for something surprisingly special.

Exactly what a retro games compilation should be: a celebration of gaming's roots that puts an era in context and preserves it for future generations. And at a mere twenty bucks MSRP, you're virtually guaranteed to get your money's worth.

This isn't a "pick up and play" experience. This is something that requires you to sit down and work with for days -- maybe weeks -- at a time before you start to see the fruits of your labor. Still, once you get a chance to play your game, it's extremely rewarding.

The game is brutally violent, unapologetically vulgar, and simply a hell of a lot of fun to play.

Although the game still leaves a bit to be desired (a coherent storyline, for example), the gorgeous graphics and intense action definitely make it worth picking up if you're a fan of fighting games.

It's hurt by the PSP's awful controls, but that's not unexpected. Fix that d-pad and you'll be set for more Moai-shooting action than you can shake an option at... and that's a good thing.

Oh sure, Denki Blocks might look cute and innocent with its bright, colorful graphics and cast of cutesy cartoon characters, but it's a bonafide, mean-spirited jerk.

It's a solid game, but with EA's "NCAA Football 2003" in stores there's no need to pick it up.

One major failing -- its gameplay lacks the depth and innovation it needs to differentiate itself from its famous predecessor. Don't get me wrong, it's not that it's a poor game -- on the contrary, it's very fun while you try out all the characters and absorb all the pretty visuals.

Spot-on control, great atmosphere, more features than ever and balanced gameplay should send this one to the back of any soccer fan's net.