As excellent as the Square-sponsored source material is, the game is about as generic and bland as you can get.

Just a sadly mediocre attempt to do something that really didn't need doing. Now, can we please have a real VF adventure, Sega?

It's just what a good puzzler should be: simple and addictive.

If you want pure, unadulterated violence, you came to the right place. Still, I can't help but be a little disappointed in this title -- especially coming from Volition, of Red Faction fame. It's a little too by-the-book.

If you want pure, unadulterated violence, you came to the right place. Still, I can't help but be a little disappointed in this title -- especially coming from Volition, of "Red Faction" fame. It's a little too by-the-book.

When the far superior "Mario Kart Super Circuit" and the mildly obscure but also awesome "Konami Krazy Racers" already exist on GBA, there's no reason to get this.

There is no single thing terribly wrong with Tork, other than the fact that it's extremely vanilla, uncreative, and by-the-book.

The last game was arguably worse, but it got a few things incredibly, addictively right. Suikoden IV gets a few things above average and most things dead-on mediocre.

At worst, though, it embodies one of the more unfortunate trends our industry is prone to follow: putting style and presentation over substantive interactive experience.

A completely fresh gaming experience that will both astound fans of the series and quiet its detractors. It's action/adventure gaming at its absolute finest -- yes, Action... with a capital A.

I can't remember the last time I played a game in which I wondered whether something could be done, and nine times out of ten it actually could be, whether it's calling in an airstrike on a lone soldier or jacking a helicopter from the sky. Blowing stuff has never been this fun, or this satisfying.

What better way to make good use of your new DS system (with its lacking library) than by popping this game in? It looks absolutely stunning on the DS's screen.

I can't remember the last time I played a game in which I wondered whether something could be done, and nine times out of ten it actually could be, whether it's calling in an airstrike on a lone soldier or jacking a helicopter from the sky. Blowing stuff has never been this fun, or this satisfying.

If you're interested a day-by-day re-creation of what is arguably the most dramatic decade the world has ever known, presented in a staggering amount of detail using a complex and sophisticated simulation that affords all sorts of freedom for hypothetical situations, then you won't want to miss Hearts of Iron II.

Leaves its predecessor looking rather simple and boring in comparison. And the online opportunities offered in the new package are some of the most compelling available on any console - at the moment.

Every bit better than the original, and in many shiny ways. The multiplayer is a blast, it looks great, the game modes are expanded exponentially over the first, and the game dances on the fine line of being fairly realistic without being too over-the-top crazy.

Every bit better than the original, and in many shiny ways. The multiplayer is a blast, it looks great, the game modes are expanded exponentially over the first, and the game dances on the fine line of being fairly realistic without being too over-the-top crazy.

Every bit better than the original, and in many shiny ways. The multiplayer is a blast, it looks great, the game modes are expanded exponentially over the first, and the game dances on the fine line of being fairly realistic without being too over-the-top crazy.

This GameCube port has a few new features that the PS2 version didn't, like a few new stages and skill capsules, but you can't escape the fact that the game is already a year old.

A second-rate adventure title with some good puzzles tacked on to a poor story.

Seems to have fallen victim to the gaming equivalent of Darwinism. By not evolving with the changing times, the GunGriffon franchise looks like it may have finally gone the way of the dodo.

There's a decent plot, and the game's fantastic graphics really make you feel like you're in Faerûn. And for a brawler, it's a very playable game. However, compared to other games, it's more like an interactive movie.

It gives you tasty side dishes of RPG and adventure gaming to go along with the action genre. Add on top of all that the excellent production values, impressive voice acting, tight script, bonuses like Commentary Mode, and a reduced price.

Unfortunately, the story and pretty pictures aren't enough to wade through the random guessing that makes up the game itself. Selecting phrases until you pick the "right" one doesn't make for a good game.

Unless you absolutely must look at a cartoon character while you chat, there's no reason to buy Ping Pals. Otherwise, just stick with "PictoChat."

I strongly believe tactical RPG fans will get a whole lot of mileage from Growlanser Generations. Just don't ask me to recommend dropping $90 on the deluxe package with a watch, ring, and deck of playing cards. My advice: be happy you have a regular-priced option.

The only real problem with VJ2 -- it's too darn similar to the previous one.

It's certainly not as good as the early X games, but it's a giant leap in the right direction.