Layered with outstanding gameplay, cutesy visuals, and spot-on sound effects. It's one title no self-respecting strategy fan should be without.

Its multiplayer co-op hook is also a nice hook for getting brothers and sisters or moms and dads involved as a sidekick for a little family game action. That's never a bad thing.

The advantage is (once again no surprise) the Dual Shock controller. Instead of having to strain for the white and black buttons, fatalities and throws reside on the shoulder buttons, where they belong.

The Xbox's advantage is, of course, graphics. Here the character models don't look as flat and the textures feature slightly more intricate detail. The world is still pretty blocky, but with a decent framerate and solid effects, we can accept that.

Overall, it's just a confusing, poorly conceived product that should set off a consumer's "money grab" senses.

While fairly on the generic side, Resurrection does manage to offer a decent platforming experience for gamers searching for something new.

Unlike Sims 2 "University," which added a whole new age, new careers, and new ways to radically change your Sims, Nightlife doesn't change Sims 2 with any bold strokes. Still, just about every feature added in the expansion works and works well, enhancing if not revolutionizing the game.

It manages to exhaustively deliver everything that made "Burnout 3" so fantastic while adding small tweaks that make its predecessor an immediate item for trade-in at your local game store.

Though it's nothing stellar, Regeneration does have some nice things going for it -- a great sense of humor, nice visuals, and it captures the feel of the movies faithfully.

Even the slightest mistake can lead to an instant beat down from a swarm of CPU-controlled gang members. The aggressive A.I. is relentless in its attacks and, especially later in the game, will easily frustrate even the most hardcore fighting fans.

In the end, Crash Mode really saves the game. The problems with translating the fast nature of racing to a small screen are nullified by the high fun factor involved with Crash Mode.

It manages to exhaustively deliver everything that made "Burnout 3" so fantastic while adding small tweaks that make its predecessor an immediate item for trade-in at your local game store.

Lots of one-liners, lots of humor, and a healthy dose of action. The story isn't an epic masterpiece, it's an Evil Dead plot. It's nowhere close to being the best, but it sure is fun.

Maybe in the next generation of consoles, I'll be able to immerse myself in the pretty graphics and forget I'm playing the same damn game yet again, but not this time.

It doesn't quite make do on its promise of being a hybrid platform/puzzle/action racer, but it does enough things right to make it worth checking out.

Unarguably, however, the most significant change has been the increase in the level cap. Players who were once sitting comfortably at 50 (the old level cap) are now looking forward to a lengthy, laborious grind.

Last year, Take-Two won the Stanley Cup of NHL games hands down. With NHL 2k6, Take-Two is on its way to win the championship one more time.

There's enough content and replay value to keep you busy for hours -- even more if you hook up with friend. Factoring all the elements this title offers makes it a no-brainer for anyone who's wanted a fighter that's simple to play, entertaining, and offers long-term value.

Although the game controls quite well, one move is pretty tough to get the hang of.

There's enough content and replay value to keep you busy for hours -- even more if you hook up with friend. Factoring all the elements this title offers makes it a no-brainer for anyone who's wanted a fighter that's simple to play, entertaining, and offers long-term value.

Although the single-player game is lacking, the same thankfully can't be said about the multiplayer, which is just as strong as ever.

Diehards will love the reduced emphasis on checking, while more casual fans should enjoy the new skill stick moves and the ability to place your shot wherever you please. Best of all, every rule change has made it into the game.

When all is slashed and looted, Radiata Stories is an unremarkable RPG whose stabs at innovation end up feeling rather inconsequential. It's perfectly playable and is not a bad game, but it lacks any real hook or draw.

A solid strategy game experience for GBA owners. Anything the game's presentation lacks is more than made up for by the intricacies of its gameplay.

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.

Diehards will love the reduced emphasis on checking, while more casual fans should enjoy the new skill stick moves and the ability to place your shot wherever you please. Best of all, every rule change has made it into the game.

Last year, Take-Two won the Stanley Cup of NHL games hands down. With NHL 2k6, Take-Two is on its way to win the championship one more time.

Diehards will love the reduced emphasis on checking, while more casual fans should enjoy the new skill stick moves and the ability to place your shot wherever you please. Best of all, every rule change has made it into the game.