Despite all that's good with the game, NHL 2K8's innovations are a few years behind the times, making it feel like a cheap rehash of what's already available.

It rarely does anything wrong, but at the same time doesn't earn high marks in too many categories. PoPoLoCrois is just an average role-playing game, made better by the lack of competition and the fact that you can take it with you.

FlatOut 2 drives a fine line, but manages to come out on the good side more often than not. It might be a good idea to tether that controller to your wrist, though, because it's possible you'll send it flying just as much as your driver.

It's not that the game has the wrong songs, but that it has so few of them. For $50, you can't help but feel a little cheated when all you get is Guitar Hero III with a light coat of paint and barely half the songs.

The game is probably the most faithful interpretation of the series for current consoles. And while the lack of online play is glaring in its absence, the addition of game sharing should help ease the fans' pain.

A giant leap ahead of "Most Wanted" and probably nudges "Underground 2" as the franchise's top title for the DS.

There's little that takes away from the game, but also little that makes it stand out.

Silent Hill: Homecoming is a very strange game, as its dual nature and oddly unsatisfying gameplay could likely turn both fans and newcomers away.

The game shipped with passable production values, dated graphics, and a minimal number of play modes, so it's hard to consider this a good value at the $59.99 price point. On the other hand, if you're a die-hard football fan and want to once again experience 2K's style of play, then this is your only option.

It's a shame, then, that vehicle handling feels so clunky and awkward, since it's such an integral part of the experience. It's also quite possible that the tutorial and construction will be too complicated and frustrating for younger gamers. Those are two major issues, but if you can look beyond them, there's fun to be found in Nuts & Bolts.

Visually, it's probably the nicest-looking of the three NBA games. The created player progression concept works, as does the Games of the Week challenge mode. Where you may be disappointed is in the unresponsiveness of some of the controls and the lack of depth of gameplay modes -- especially the lack of a franchise mode.

The best thing that can be said about Cars is that it lays down solid racing gameplay without feeling generic.

Regardless of whether it's been done before and arguably done better, the game is reliable and solid fun.

There might not be any innovation here, but there's still some fun to be had. Just don't expect much more than what you're used to getting.

It does, however, provide a completely unique mix of strategic planning, design optimization, and cathartic release, held together by an enjoyably loony mix of World War II aesthetics and high-tech, sci-fi tomfoolery.

There were many times when I wanted to just quit and never play it again. Don't get me wrong, it's not a horrible game; it's just nowhere near as polished as [both "Medal of Honor: Allied Assault" and "Call of Duty"].

Although Marvel Nemesis is far from being a perfect game, it's still an exceptionally strong outing for EA. Comic fans should be suitably impressed with EA's use of the Marvel license, and fighting fans will likely find more than enough substance to keep themselves entertained.

Mirror's Edge isn't a terrible PC port by any means, but has some unique technical issues that put it a step below the console versions.

If you own a PS3 and an Xbox 360, then go ahead and opt for the 360 version. It has better online support, sharper visuals and richer colors. But if you only own a PlayStation 3, rest assured that you'll enjoy this version anyways.

The new modding tools are an excellent addition to any homebrew RPG designer's bag of tricks and the single-player campaign is worth playing simply for the terrific story.

SingStar Vol. 2 is a tough sell. Although it has a wide berth of exclusive (and fun to sing) tracks, it offers little in improvements over Sony's six month-old release.

It's the weak multiplayer that keeps us from recommending The Club with full enthusiasm.

Strong in concept and weak in execution. It's a trip to be able to work your way up the ranks, but it's far too repetitious and difficult and it could have been a lot more enjoyable.

One of the best things about the earlier games in the franchise was the feeling that you could be taken out at any time by a hidden terrorist, which made player approach each situation much more carefully. With the addition of the heartbeat sensor, you can simply scout out every room before you enter, allowing you to easily pinpoint enemy locations.

If you're in the mood for a more simplistic romp through the world of Pokemon, you'll likely enjoy Shadows of Almia. Those looking for a more traditional Pokemon experience, though, might feel a bit let down.

A standard racer... None of the gimmicks it tries really work. You never get a sense of a dramatic underlying storyline.

It's by no means a terrible game, but it simply isn't any better than its older brethren.

I realized Project 8 was playing like an updated version of the original Pro Skater series. Hardcore fans will likely bemoan the simplicity of the game, but it does allow amateurs to enjoy the experience more.