From its opening moments to its spectacular closing sequences, Half-Life 2 assaults you with a variety of gameplay styles and memorable moments, all executed with amazing precision.

It's hard to figure how they could have got the story, characters, and point more wrong than this. Perhaps by replacing Tyler Durden with, say, Dick Cheney, things would have been worse.

If you go in with the idea that Bloodlines is a hybrid FPS / RPG, you're going to be dramatically disappointed. On the other hand, if you're looking for one of the best role-playing game experiences of this year, then you should really look into Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines.

This is adventure gaming for lazy gamers who don't mind being led around on a leash.

Although switching characters every few missions took away from my enjoyment of the game, I found experiencing combat in different locales to be very entertaining.

A game that shouldn't have been made. It's a hardcore product with next to nothing new to offer to the hardcore. Meanwhile, more casual people will be turned off by the confusing learning curve and the utterly awful aesthetics.

Easily the most forward-thinking DBZ title we've seen. It captures the speed and style of the show and wraps it into a very playable presentation with fantastic character designs.

It's so darn stylish and such a great demonstration of the DS hardware. Unfortunately, it's over long before I want it to be, and there's not enough to keep me coming back to it after a few more rounds with it.

A reasonably solid action game with some extremely annoying but often fun elements. There's no doubt that with some ingenious multiplayer modes and some creative thought behind a better set of touch-screen features that Spider-Man 2 would have faired much better overall as an entertaining piece of software on the Nintendo DS.

Although the single player campaign is on the short side, a solid multiplayer mode will ensure that you'll still be playing it a few months from now. If you're looking to fight in the Big One, it's time to answer the call.

While the changes that have been made are pretty major, they were all implemented to enhance the experience, and it's definitely become a much more enjoyable game because of them.

You can grab certain small buildings, which is nice, but only the ones that glow red. Why not all of them? That in itself would add considerably to the "hell yeah" factor.

Most importantly, the gameplay feels just a bit looser and less controlled. That's not to say it fails -- it just could have been better.

All we get here is more of the potential and less of the execution, when it would be better off the other way around.

It's hard to figure how they could have got the story, characters, and point more wrong than this. Perhaps by replacing Tyler Durden with, say, Dick Cheney, things would have been worse.

The brisk card battles provide a frantic element few RPGs can claim, and the visuals hold up their end of the bargain. But a huge reliance on luck, some quirky gameplay issues, and a ho-hum plot saddled with atrocious voice acting holds this one down like a pair of concrete shoes.

The best WWII shooter currently available on a console. It's rich with historical details, colorful characters, and interesting locales, and you'll find yourself immersed in the intense combat sequences.

While the previous game may be more polished, this edition aims higher and achieves more regardless of a few missteps.

Mr. Pants the character deserves to star in more than just a puzzle game. He's a goofy, charming product of British humor, so we fully expect a Mr. Pants platform game or (even better) RPG in the near future. Please?

The challenges, environments, and cast of baddies are varied enough to prevent this game from ever seeming tedious. And, when you reach the final destination on a level, the amusing victory dance makes it all seem worthwhile.

The additional game modes, upgraded customization, and most-importantly the game's open world environment make it stand a clear step above its predecessor which was already a fantastic racer to begin with.

It's easily the best title for GameCube this year, and while there's really not all that much new in terms of game mechanics, play style, and presentation, what you're ultimately left with is a rock-solid sequel that offers a bigger, harder, more rewarding challenge than the first game.

It's stable, almost bug-free, and has easy-to-use controls, which makes it a nice way to introduce kids to the genre. But anyone who has spent any significant time with tycoon strategy games will probably find it a little light on the strategy.

Though the Xbox version of the game doesn't have all the newer features of the latest PlayStation 2 version, it boasts the largest song list of any game in the series, downloadable content, and more diverse control options.

The graphics in Rumble Roses are astounding, and are every bit as good as the fare put out by Tecmo or Namco in its fighting games. I'd even go out on a limb and state these lasses are more attractive than the cast of "DOA," and they easily show more personality.

The game remains faithful to the source material and blends two distinct gameplay styles into an entertaining hybrid. Fans of the series should find this a great addition to their Shaman King collection.

More importantly, the action at the game's heart is only so-so; it's competent in execution, but just doesn't seem terribly compelling to play through. It passes time, but it's not exciting or fun.

It might not be as deep as its PC counterpart, but it's perfect for console gamers, who are generally looking for a more casual experience. By the end, my buddy was living the high life, and I was actually proud that my Urb was finally one of the popular kids.