If nothing else, the game certainly captures the dumb, single-minded spirit of the films. I'm not a fan of the series, but I did have fun with Redemption, despite its total lack of depth. For a while, that is.

This racer needs a serious adrenaline injection to truly compete.

Though it doesn't hit the graphical highs of the upcoming "Metal Gear Solid 3," the visual style is one of the few ways that Spy Fiction distinguishes itself from its parent series in a positive way.

The aliens are as challenging as anything the game has to offer, and the rewards have kept the game fresh for many. It goes without saying, though, that if you're a solo gamer who prefers to hunt alone, there isn't much here to make the investment worthwhile.

Even with the disappointing lack of online play and the utterly unsurprising graphics issues, Street Fighter Anniversary Collection's two superb fighters offer enough outstanding gameplay to keep you cracking skulls and throwing fireballs for a long time to come.

If you've been off the Dynasty Warriors wagon for a while, this may bring you back. It offers some new depth and motivation to fight lots and lots of stupid bad guys, and should keep a smile on your face until the next inevitable sequel.

Little extras like item invention, a multiplayer arena, and Battle Trophies round out the package nicely, and keep things fresh.

Far too hardcore to serve as an introduction to the genre, but fans of the genre are in for a treat once they accustom themselves to the game's mind-bendingly unique and tactical paradigms.

I just can't find enough new content here to recommend that you pick up this year's model. This old horse needs to learn some new tricks, or at the very least not forget the ones it's already learned.

"But it's a great drunken party game!" some will scream. I'm sorry, but it's far too complicated and asinine for intoxicated people to grasp. It took me forever to reach unobstructed FMV toplessness, and I was sober.

My biggest gripe with NASCAR 2005 is the lack of polish in the graphics department. The framerate was a bit sluggish at times and I had a hard time getting past the jagged appearance of the cars.

1) It's not flashy; 2) It's not easy; 3) There's not much of a reward waiting for you at the end. So as long as you're okay with Myst throwbacks in all their staid, obtuse non-glory, you won't be disappointed.

Gearheads who lust after things like a shiny new HKS Turbo will probably have fun tinkering with their fleet. Anyone else will fast become furious over dropping fifty bucks on this game.

Where the game will put a huge smile on your face is in the number of mini-games you'll be able to play.

"But it's a great drunken party game!" some will scream. I'm sorry, but it's far too complicated and asinine for intoxicated people to grasp. It took me forever to reach unobstructed FMV toplessness, and I was sober.

With the trophy-style attributes, some great little secrets to unlock, and the highly amusing two-player stuff, it's pretty hard not to fall in love with those cute little Pikmin.

"SmackDown" still has the superior career mode and looks a bit better for its capabilities, but Day of Reckoning owns in terms of gameplay and multiplayer. Just don't ask if it beats out my old favorite, "WWF No Mercy" on N64; that's just too close to call.

The fundamental gameplay is good, but thematically the game is not aesthetically pleasing.

A slightly reduced retail price and the cool unlockable stuff make VJ for PS2 one of the best buys I've seen all year. It offers something great for those of you that already Joe, and something truly epic for those of you that don't.

There were times when I was loving Astro Boy and times when it was boring me to tears.

It's no gimmicks, no frills, and ten times more enjoyable than yet another warmed-over SNES port.

It's passable at best, and surpassed by The Suffering in nearly every aspect. Sadly, Sony had the right idea in not bringing this title to the U.S., as it simply brings nothing new to the table.

It's definitely a solid title that offers fine gameplay and excellent replay value, but outside of the online play -- which is pretty barebones -- it isn't too much of an advancement over its predecessor.

There's no denying that this is going to be another enduring feather in the cap of one of the most exciting strategy game developers since the heyday of Microprose and SimTex.

Fans of the series will no doubt like the ability to test the relative strengths and weaknesses of, say, the GAT-X103 versus the GAT-X207, but gamers unfamiliar with mobile suit mythology won't get that same buzz.

The defense upgrades bring a lot of welcome strategy to the game, and the new AI is simply superb. Its amazingly deep, well thought out franchise mode is the best I've ever seen, while the basic gameplay still can't be beat.

The defense upgrades bring a lot of welcome strategy to the game, and the new AI is simply superb. Its amazingly deep, well thought out franchise mode is the best I've ever seen, while the basic gameplay still can't be beat.

The defense upgrades bring a lot of welcome strategy to the game, and the new AI is simply superb. Its amazingly deep, well thought out franchise mode is the best I've ever seen, while the basic gameplay still can't be beat.