While the cute little Elebits may not pack quite enough power to shine a spotlight on the game, there's at least enough juice to warrant some attention.

Scant fun portions aside, if Far Cry: Vengeance cost the same as a soft-shell taco, I'd suggest you run for the border. I know Uwe Boll got one of his tentacles on the Far Cry movie license; I'm wondering if he directed this game as a warmup.

Blazing Angels wasn't a smash success on any of the platforms it was released on in 2006, but its release on the PS3 is undoubtedly the best version of the bunch.

I just have to issue one small warning: if you're out of shape, you'll find that swinging the Wii Remote through 18 holes of virtual golf can actually be a workout. It didn't take long for me to realize that quitting the gym was a big mistake. I was tired, I was sore, but I still wanted to keep playing. That's a good sign.

It's an amazing epitaph to the GameCube's life and it's certainly the best game from Nintendo this year. If you've been on the fence in any capacity, then please rest assured that you'll not be disappointed. Nintendo's flagship game has arrived in style and you better damned well appreciate it. It's ultimately fantastic.

A significant improvement over its predecessor on the 360.

Star Wars: Lethal Alliance does little to differentiate itself from the herd of third-person action games on PlayStation Portable. The Star Wars inclusion is too subtle to be considered a benefit and the action is ho-hum.

Given that Ice Age 2 is intended for a younger audience, it's not a terribly long or challenging game. Don't be surprised if the adventure is finished after about four or five hours.

This game could have been the be all and end all for Trek fans and action gamers alike instead of the sad capstone to a long history of crappy licensed video games.

That attitude pervades Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin: the idea that a definitely well-done safe idea is better than a possibly flawed risky idea, no matter what stagnation may follow.

Portable Ops feels like one of the few games to live up to the PSP's promise, in part because it translates the entire Metal Gear Solid experience into something that can be easily digested in small amounts...inarguably one of the best games to release on the PSP, let alone one of 2006's best.

One of the first absolutely must-own titles for the PS3. While the graphics are undoubtedly amazing and manage to outshine the 360 version, especially in the exclusive first-person mode, it's still got the same problems as the other game, and more.

It's definitely a great-looking and playing title, but its simplicity might turn off a lot of players.

The overall integrity of the game has remained intact. So if you're jealous of your DS-toting friends walking around with those giant swollen craniums of theirs due to all of that brain-boosting gaming they're doing, do yourself a favor and give your own melon a workout with a healthy dose of classic chess.

An excellent expansion that does exactly what an expansion pack should do -- add in new stuff while improving the core gameplay. The game remains a bit over- reliant on micromanaging special powers and hero units, but for fans of The Battle for Middle-earth II's gameplay style, the expansion pack is a must buy.

Monster Bomber's gameplay is too picky and arbitrary-feeling to really develop a flow, and it ends up feeling like a once-simple concept has gotten stretched to the point of distracting complication.

While longtime Tony Hawk fans may be initially turned off by the simplified controls, they'll still likely appreciate the nostalgic feel of the game.

Not only did it need to live up to the standards put forth in the first game, but also the standards of the U.S. Navy. Thankfully, it's safe to say that the frogmen of Fireteam Bravo have excelled in this, creating a new must-have for Sony's handheld.

Of course, the combination of sim and action game is sometimes a bit jarring, making the game seem like it doesn't really know what it wants to be. Regardless, Thrillville is a fun game, and if you're a fan of sim games on the PC, this would be a good way to introduce the genre to a child or younger sibling.

One big advantage that the PSP version has over its console big brothers is that it allows you to use Ad Hoc to trade your custom coasters and racecar tracks.

If you look past the movie license when playing the game, there's just no way to avoid feeling like this is the same basic platform game you've played time and time and time again.

Of course, the combination of sim and action game is sometimes a bit jarring, making the game seem like it doesn't really know what it wants to be. Regardless, Thrillville is a fun game, and if you're a fan of sim games on the PC, this would be a good way to introduce the genre to a child or younger sibling.

The controls are great, but with nothing to do in terms of content, things ultimately fall short.

The cover mechanics, the lethal firearms, the satisfaction of working with a smart team, plus maps that couldn't get done in time for the single-player game and some returning classics make multiplayer golden...I can't overstate how good the multiplayer is here.

The most painful realization will come to owners of "College Hoops 2K6," who will be hard-pressed to find a major improvement in the core game, outside of the roster update. It's hard to justify paying full price for such a similar game.

An uneven difficulty level, not much variety in quests and battles, clunky and temperamental controls, and the lack of any type of multiplayer will all quickly frustrate you.

It's a broken, buggy game, and if the statement about learning curves were true, it would still take far too long to gain wings before the average gamer would grow disenfranchised. The game feels completely rushed to retail in time for the launch.

An excellent addition (and homage to "Ocarina") to the franchise, and you'll have an enormous amount of fun playing it from start to finish. Get over the fact that the Wii's hardware is simply not as powerful as the other next-gen machines and get into the fact that Twilight Princess is one of the best games you'll play this year.