The Gladiators isn't a bad game. Indeed, it's quite challenging and entertaining in many regards. However, just that like the B-movies that were its inspirations, that's all it is.

The VR Missions alone could keep you busy for weeks. If, however, MGS2 didn't light your fire, your logs will remain unburnt by Substance.

Gone are cumbersome mechanics like hiding bodies and sheathing swords to run faster; back are gruesome one-hit kills, fun grappling hooks and those lovely poisoned rice balls.

The superior graphics and flight modeling are unmatched, and game's many solitaire and multiplayer options give it long life on the hard drive.

The ability to download current rosters and save games at any point more than offsets the less-than-stellar graphics and sometimes challenging hitting.

Stylish and sophisticated.

A barely passable "Diablo" mod with all the weaknesses of the original game and few of the strengths.

There's nothing sadder than watching something that used to be great take that long, painful slide into irrelevance and oblivion.

From its cryptic opening moments to its startlingly unresolved ending, it’s unlike that which has come before it... [and] could shape up to be Square's most formidable competition yet.

The worst thing, though, is the fact that once you've built the airport, the game is essentially over.

There are things to like about this new version, especially as a multiplayer game, but in the end there are too many issues, big and small, for it to reach the nearly unreachable standard set by its predecessors.

A pleasant surprise. Whether you're going head-to-head against formidable AI bots or human opponents, it has plenty to offer both newcomers and bot-bashing aficionados alike.

To be honest, CMR3 can't hold a candle to "Rallisport Challenge" graphically, but betters it with phenomenal collision detection and handling.

A ghost-white imitation of SSX, and possibly one of the worst games in Konami's 30-year history.

It's laidback, good-natured, and a fine example of the quirky game design that only the Japanese seem to deliver.

A fun party fighter with lots of visual variety but little gameplay differentiation and a horrid sense of humor.

It might be some time until the Xbox sees another adventure that's this enjoyable again.

The game may not have the flashy graphics of the other hardball titles, but the ability to download current rosters and to save games in mid-progress are both wonderful additions to the series and will have you overlooking any minor cosmetic glitches.

One big disappointment is that the roster download option that was included in the Xbox and PS2 versions didn't make the final cut here.

Not flashy, but it more than gets the job done -- the Jim Thome of baseball games.

One of the most tension-packed, visually stunning games you're likely to play this year.

Players who are willing to stick it out will find an RPG of unrivaled depth, innovation, and replayability.

It's a lot like going to your favorite restaurant, ordering your favorite dish, taking a bite and finding a hair in it.

The gorgeous graphics combined with the terrific sense of speed (at least at higher levels) are certainly as fun to watch as they are to interact with, and the control is accurate enough to allow precise movements.

The story concept behind the game is surprisingly interesting, diverging from the typical rehashing of a franchise universe seen in many similar tie-ins.

The game's events are portrayed with such stark realism that sometimes after playing I almost felt like I had experienced the events alongside the characters.

Within an hour, you've pretty much seen and done all the game has to offer.

What's great about this level of detailed realism is that it usually doesn't make the game overwhelming, but rather makes it thrilling.