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.

Hard-core economic simulation players looking for the next spreadsheet to conquer are likely to be disappointed by the game's easy style and shallow economy. Multiplayer fans or just those looking for the model train set they always dreamed of as a kid will definitely get a kick out of Sid Meier's Railroads!

The controls are an interesting hook. Actually slugging it out with your targets by swinging the Wii Remote and nunchuk is fun, and the shooting elements are handled well by making the pointer aspect of the Remote a "precision targeter," rather than your sole firearms control.

The additional game modes, upgraded customization, and most-importantly the game's open world environment make it stand a clear step above its predecessor which was already a fantastic racer to begin with.

It also helps that the game looks and sounds great, so if you can deal with the random battles and repetitive turn-based combat, you're in for a treat that should entertain for months to come.

Smuggler's Run 2 makes Smuggler's Run look like a tech demo. It's Angel Studios' best game so far.

This game definitely is ambitious. Unfortunately, I would've traded things like the track creator and rider customization for tighter gameplay. Mototrax gets an A for effort, but about a B- in execution.

Soccer sim fans are still much better off sticking with "Winning Eleven" despite its lack of license power. However, for online players, FIFA 2005 is worth taking a look at because it removes a lot of the offline AI issues.

On one hand, you can't ignore the game's various shortcomings, the lack of editing tools and failing multiplayer. But on the other hand, it's hard to dismiss a game that eats up late night hours faster than G-String Diva reruns on HBO, leaving you desperate to finish a campaign mission at 3AM before you pass out.

Even if you make only one trip through LEGO Indiana Jones, it'll be a great ride.

An involving graphic adventure, but it's noticeably hampered by its technical flaws and well-meaning attempts at action sequences.

Too bad it's so short, but there's plenty to do in the city of L.A. once the story is over. This is the first game that treats the "GTA" model as inspiration rather than a quick ticket to the bank.

The result will please gamers that are fans of the show or those searching for a simple fighting game, though fans looking for the next incarnation of "WWF No Mercy" will have to keep waiting.

While UT certainly does not break new ground, it makes a good transition from the PC and offers much with its unique game types and excellent multiplayer.

The lackluster multiplayer mode and lame character designs don't take anything away from the main game, though. The swinging play mechanic helps keep things fresh and allows for a lot of technique that you don't normally see in a platformer.

The biggest drawback of this game is the inclusion of Venom as a playable character. He draaaags. He can't web swing (but he can cover vast distances with his leaps), he relies on brute strength rather than finesse, and you must also devour people in order to keep the suit from killing the man inside.

As is the case with even the best action films, BLACK probably won't stay with you long after the closing credits have rolled. That's not to say, however, that you won't be on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The game is short, explosive and downright slick and it's everything we hoped it was going to be.

Even if you make only one trip through LEGO Indiana Jones, it'll be a great ride.

There's no disputing that Quantum Conundrum has some great ideas here, and perhaps it's even something this creative team can build upon. I just hope they dial back the amount of first-person platforming involved to solve these puzzles the next time around, and create a more-compelling world that I actually want to explore.

Multiplayer options notwithstanding, Knights of Honor is a triumph of play balance, attention to detail, and a wealth of elements coming together to present a challenging and authentic-feeling simulation of medieval politics.

Fun, engaging, and very entertaining. Some will be drawn in by the story, some by the humor, and some by the sheer originality of the world that has been created.

Too bad it's so short, but there's plenty to do in the city of L.A. once the story is over. This is the first game that treats the "GTA" model as inspiration rather than a quick ticket to the bank.

If MMORPGing sounds like it might appeal to you, then you'll not be disappointed with Frontiers. It's a solid online RPG experience that works very well.

I like 'em fast and furious, not fast and frustrating. That being said, I fell in love with GT Advance 2 almost from the very beginning.

It's not a game that will redefine strategy gaming, but it is an enjoyable ride.

A refined version of an outstanding platformer series, and with games in this genre becoming more and more rare these days (especially good ones), it's hard to not recommend this title.

The real killjoy – and potential deal breaker – is the horrendous UPlay system's draconian requirement that you be connected to the internet at all times to play.