The duels themselves are flashy and enjoyable, but the story mode surrounding them is almost as dull as actually being in class.

One can only hope that a sequel will improve on certain issues, such as a few clunky mini-games that eat away at the fun factor, but overall, for the sense of humor, entertaining presentation, and the online scoreboards, Rayman is the winner in this launch battle.

The biggest problem is that it isn't quite there yet in terms of expansiveness. If you're mainly interested in the single-player campaign, then you may be a little disappointed.

The awesome character designs by Japanese artist Mitsuru Nakamura (who is primarily known as simply "326") certainly add to the game's appeal.

It doesn't rise leaps and bounds above its PS2 predecessor, but it adds enough in the way of new controls to keep the gameplay fun.

While it's undeniable that the age of the engine is showing (the flaws of the counter-reversal system in comparison to other wrestling titles really shows itself during online multiplayer), it's still a solid game to play.

The very soul of an annual update, this Tiger is all tweaks -- but none of these are new to the PS3 version, 360 fans. This was one title that really could have shown the power of the Sixaxis and the PS3, but fails. Instead, it's arguably worse than its current-gen versions and is no better than the competition on the 360.

A perfect fit for the Nintendo Wii. If you've played the DS title, then you need to play this too. If you haven't, then don't do your new Wii the disservice of ignoring TCSO. It's a refreshingly original game that'll give you a ride well worth taking.

GT Pro Series simply fails to deliver any sort of substantial racing experience. No matter how many cars you have or how many ways you can tweak them out, the fact is, if it's no fun to actually drive around, then it fails as a racing game.

Even Ocho Cinco might have trouble keeping up the trash-talking intensity after prolonged exposure to the same old Street feel.

NFL Street 3 seems at home on the small screen. This game is best taken in quick bursts of fun, and the PSP is built for just that. Still, even Ocho Cinco might have trouble keeping up the trash-talking intensity after prolonged exposure to the same old Street feel.

If you're over six years old, you have no reason to check out this game, but it would make a good gift for a daughter or younger sister.

If you've played a weapon-based racer before, you've already played something worth going back to before wandering into the budget-priced land of Pocket Racers.

Everything on offer is either not worth checking out or is better experienced in its original form. As a result, EA Replay fails to justify its existence, much less its $20 price tag.

Feels rushed and slapped-together as a low-budget attempt to cash in on the holiday film release and make a quick buck from the fans before word gets out that it's not worth half its retail price.

Feels rushed and slapped-together as a low-budget attempt to cash in on the holiday film release and make a quick buck from the fans before word gets out that it's not worth half its retail price.

If at all possible, give the multiplayer a shot; it's the game's best feature. There's no doubt that some gamers are going to take to this title like a dragon to the air, but for others, the fun may not even get off the ground.

The basic design of the game is quite sound and if Piranha Bytes could clean the game up, it might end up becoming a classic. As it stands now, my nightmarish trip through the world of Gothic 3 made me want to send my disc on a one-way trip into an incinerator.

Little more than a generic game with little to no flavor of its own. Unless you're a diehard Warhammer fan, Battle for Atluma doesn't have much to offer.

It's not a triple-A title by any stretch -- with its gameplay quirks and audio that sounds recorded in a bus-station bathroom -- but it captures the sense of simple fun that Nintendo was shooting for with this new-fangled console.

The forgettable campaign and the Fortress hero bug are both huge annoyances -- but the Fortress town itself combined with the new scenarios, random maps, and other goodies make it a no-brainer for die-hards of the series; it makes the idea of going back to the original unthinkable, which is the mark of any good expansion.

A massive improvement over the original in pretty much every way imaginable: music, graphics, interface, customization options, and difficulty level. It's also a fantastic strategy game, and probably one of the last great GBA titles that will be released in the West.

Eragon isn't trying to outdo Final Fantasy, it's borrowing enough of its good ideas to put together a fairly deep and satisfying adaptation of the movie, and if you can forgive a lack of meaningful innovation, it does a pretty good job of it.

To celebrate his fifteenth anniversary with such a lackluster product is upsetting to say the least. For shame, Sega. This doddering version of Sonic the Hedgehog has an appointment with the glue factory for sure.

Feels rushed and slapped-together as a low-budget attempt to cash in on the holiday film release and make a quick buck from the fans before word gets out that it's not worth half its retail price.

Longtime fans of games like "Rome: Total War" may fault the game for not adding more, but if you're looking for a solid strategy title, Medieval II: Total War delivers.

Granted, the snappy graphics are pretty boss, even in standard definition (and you'll notice a difference if you use an S-Video cable instead of the plain old composites), but that's just not enough to warrant the label next-gen -- not when you've got a machine as powerful as the PS3 flaunting its Cell processor.

It's just that compared to the original, it's nowhere near as polished.