All of the elements that have made the series great are here - the sense of humor, the slick sense of style and the ridiculously over-the-top action - and the game is at once instantly accessible and surprisingly deep, thanks to a more-elaborate-than-it-lets-on combo system.

All of the elements that have made the series great are here - the sense of humor, the slick sense of style and the ridiculously over-the-top action - and the game is at once instantly accessible and surprisingly deep, thanks to a more-elaborate-than-it-lets-on combo system.

Wandering back and forth through the same areas to collect one silly object after another will drive you "This is Sparta" raving mad, especially when you realize that you have to collect every fairy sprite and finish every last side quest just to see how the story ends.

Wandering back and forth through the same areas to collect one silly object after another will drive you "This is Sparta" raving mad, especially when you realize that you have to collect every fairy sprite and finish every last side quest just to see how the story ends.

Some people may find that kind of oppressive difficulty refreshing, but most folks, including the game's intended audience, are apt to find it frustrating.

Wandering back and forth through the same areas to collect one silly object after another will drive you "This is Sparta" raving mad, especially when you realize that you have to collect every fairy sprite and finish every last side quest just to see how the story ends.

Thin slights against an otherwise engaging puzzler; one we hope doesn't fade from memory due to a light retail presence and serious lack of buzz.

Encore is a solid sequel and an enjoyable experience, but in 2008, Karaoke Revolution is starting to feel a bit outdated compared to the emerging competition.

Encore is a solid sequel and an enjoyable experience, but in 2008, Karaoke Revolution is starting to feel a bit outdated compared to the emerging competition.

Encore is a solid sequel and an enjoyable experience, but in 2008, Karaoke Revolution is starting to feel a bit outdated compared to the emerging competition.

It's short, clocking in at around four to six hours long, but this isn't a slapdash effort - the plot might be lame, but the action, level design and graphics are all pretty impressive for a DS title.

This is a love letter to longtime fans first and a cheap means for new players to meet the series second. Head-On is a complete game and fun for a while, but the extra features are the real reason you'll want to sniff around.

While it's certainly not bad, it's got a very limited appeal outside of a certain core audience. But, at the very least, it fills a niche that the PS2 has been severely lacking in for almost its entire lifespan - and pretty well, at that.

With most RTS games shifting towards fast action at the expense of real strategy, it would be an unforgivable sin for a strategy fan to pass by this game on the shelf and not pick it up.

For the most part though, this game is all about gradually building up parks by yourself in the free play mode and relaxing with your creations. If that sounds fun to you, then you'll dig Zoo Tycoon 2 DS.

This is one of those rare titles that add strength to the argument of games as art. Get it.

Chessmaster Live doesn’t look like much. But it delivers exactly what it promises, and there’s not really much to complain about because of it.

Compared to other minigame collections, Bomberman Land is a dud.

Ultimately, Bomberman Land isn't bad, but there are certainly better minigame collections out there. Likewise, there are a myriad of alternative ways to play the classic Bomberman battle mode if that's what you desire.

There aren't many multiplayer party collections that offer this much bang for the buck.

This is one of those games that brings about a party atmosphere whenever three or four people are going at it in the same room. Sadly, there's no online multiplayer, although you can connect to Nintendo's WiFi Connect service to add your top scores to the worldwide results ladder.

One Piece: Unlimited Adventure takes the scavenger hunt approach too far. You spend way more time chopping up shrubs in search of raw materials than you ever do fighting soldiers or following the story.

At least it's not the worst of the Bold racing bunch – that'd be "Kawasaki Quad Bikes"... or maybe "Classic British Motor Racing." Guess they really are indistinguishable.

We're not decrying simplicity as a general design element, but too many of the included games feel tossed together, while the few notable ones offer only seconds of unique play.

If anything, Savage 2 leaves us with the distinct impression that perhaps the gaming world just isn’t ready for these two popular genres to join together in holy matrimony.

Boogie Bunnies doesn’t stand out next to the best puzzlers on Live Arcade - Bejeweled, Puzzle Fighter, Zuma, etc. - but it is a solid title with something to offer.

There's also a distinct lack of motion-controlled gimmickry going on; granted, many games just needlessly tack on motion chores, but considering the nature of evidence-gathering, it would have suited this game perfectly.

Of course, if eye candy, implied promiscuity, and becoming a rock star do happen to be your cup of tea, you'll certainly find Miami Nights much more engaging than the typical social sim.

Of all the episodes so far, Moai Better Blues comes closest to hitting the bizarre, pulp-fiction-y tones of the original Sam & Max comics, with a bigger emphasis on random spurts of cartoon silliness and fewer desperate stabs at hit-or-miss wackiness.

We suspect that control scheme would work better if it emulated that found in games like Robotron 2084 or Geometry Wars - though that wouldn't be as authentic, it could make Tron a fantastic Live Arcade game. But as it is, this just doesn't work.

All you need for a great shooter is solid control and intense action, and Omega Five has that in spades. Plus it’s got some extremely pretty visuals to boot.

There's not nearly enough meat on its bones to warrant a stand-alone game, even mercifully priced $20 less than most new next-gen releases. Frankly, it belongs as a mini-game in Madden.

There's not nearly enough meat on its bones to warrant a stand-alone game, even mercifully priced $20 less than most new next-gen releases. Frankly, it belongs as a mini-game in Madden.

But after blazing through the episodes in less than five hours, we've modified our original query to: Where's the gameplay? Call it Phoenix Wright for dummies - the formula has been streamlined and simplified so much that the resulting point-and-click experience is largely devoid of challenge.

Zero Gravity sometimes feels like your racing skill doesn’t matter as much as your ability to spot new, cooler ways to get through the tracks; it’s still fun to do, but once you’ve mastered a track there’s little reason to go back to it.

Not that it's terrible, but we can only watch Kim Possible gyrate for so long before folding up our dance mats and moving on.

But perhaps the worst part of it all is that the transplant to a home console has removed a good chunk of Tag Force’s initial appeal: the ability to play on-the-go card battles with friends who also have a PSP and the game.

These minor quibbles never prevent the game from being fun, though.

If you’ve never heard of this series, but enjoy classic stuff like Contra and its ilk, MS3 is made for you.

Even at $19.99 there is not a single redeeming quality worth justifying the expense. It’s time to just keep on truckin'.

No, it’s not game of the year, but it’s a solid, playable title that manages to serve the license really well.

This is a true classic - it just isn't a lot of fun to play.

These are some of gaming's all-time classics, and they still deliver. It's just that, like a swimsuit model who just happens to be wearing muddy, chicken crap-encrusted overalls over her bikini, some of the magic of the original games is concealed by adjustments that were made but not needed or needed but not made.

NiGHTS really soars when it's in the air, maintaining the essence of the original game. Some of the crappier additions send it into a bit of a nose dive, but overall the game rights itself with its bold originality and a unique charm that's unlike anything else out there.

The visual downgrade from the PSP to DS version make this a better bet on Sony's platform. Still, if you're a DS owner who's already conquered Advance Wars multiple times over, and are tiring of the brimming mini-game and sim line-up, you might appreciate this turn-based tactical title.

There’s not much else on the DS to challenge MX, so if you’ve got to fill your mud-spraying fix, it’s a decent enough choice, but don’t expect a whole lot of variety in the experience.

You've got one track, a small assortment of vehicles, stupid opponents, an antique setting, and little variety. Unless you're a historian of racing, better leave this one in the garage.

Showtime Championship Boxing would be a lousy looker two console generations ago; in 2008 it’s nothing short of a Mike Tyson-biting-ears-level embarrassment...Every aspect of Showtime Championship Boxing is baffling.

But to really enjoy this game without feeling stupid for paying for it, you have to forget all about Champions of Norrath or any downloadable RPG you can go get on the internet for free.

With the promise of downloadable tracks, levels and game types in the future, GripShift is a decent way to spend 800 Microsoft Points. It might not be the most incredible kart racer you’ve ever played, but it’s solid and it’s fun, and that’s what counts.

March Madness 08 is the kind of game you like less the more you play it - and we didn't like it all that much from the beginning. It's not even in the same league as College Hoops 2K8, even though that title isn't perfect. Instead of stepping up like its professional counterpart did this season, March Madness took a giant step backwards.

This season, EA has made it easy to skip March Madness. Let's hope it's the end of the era once and for all, lest they continue to heap insults upon hoops fans that deserve something other than microwaved leftovers.

While much of the content in Super Swing Golf Season 2 is carried over from the original, it's presented in a way that makes the game fresh and exciting again, and is no longer a chore on the single-player side.

At 30 bucks Winter Sports isn’t remotely worth the money. You could get a decent rental out of it - get some friends together, laugh at each other while doing the crap events once each, then play the skiing parts until Lost is on.

Universe at War takes a lot of chances, and most of them pay off in the form of a unique real-time strategy experience. Just grin and bear the campy story and you'll find plenty to love here.

Ultimately, this 15-30 hours of gameplay is a must-play for anyone, even if you didn't finish the main game.

The very concept of Jenga tilts towards mediocrity, but this game sends it collapsing into utter awfulness.

Between these random inadequacies and the shabby controls, there's just not enough reason for non-hardcore Godzilla fans to bother with this. Too bad. The King of the Monsters deserves better.

Can’t Sega even be bothered to finish making the game before trying to pawn it off on us? Placeholder graphics, unfinished textures and sloppy physics are just a few of the sadistic treats this game has to offer - and the suck doesn’t stop there.

This is middle of the road gaming at its finest. Ultimately, Beowulf won't entertain the average gamer, but fans of the film might want to rent it to play while they're waiting on line to see the movie for the ninth time.

There are a ton of fine shooters hitting shelves this year that are good enough to go down in history. It would be a shame to waste your money paying full price for this heap, which instead takes history down with it.

Generally a polished and highly playable rhythm title that delivers in spades when it comes to play modes and options. We just can't help but feel like that titular revolutionary spark has faded in recent iterations.

Though largely inoffensive in its sloppiness, Alvin and the Chipmunks amounts to a forgettable budget title priced like a premium release this holiday season - as if you needed another reason to abstain from it.

Though largely inoffensive in its sloppiness, Alvin and the Chipmunks amounts to a forgettable budget title priced like a premium release this holiday season - as if you needed another reason to abstain from it.

Left Brain Right Brain might be an interesting concept, but it fails to be an interesting game. Sure, it’s only $20, but that money could be better spent on a far more interesting and enjoyable collection of minigames.

Any fun you may have teaching Rover to pluck wounded waterfowl out of the water and onto the grill will end fast once you’ve mastered duck calls, shooting, and retrieving. And that won’t take long at all.

It still looks great on the hardware and accurately represents the popular anime/manga series, but the statute of limitations for similar last-gen sequels expires now - it's time for Atari to take this franchise to next-gen consoles and put some real force behind these extraordinary characters and settings.

The sophomoric idiocy isn't for everyone, but for what it is and what it costs, PAIN is hands-down one of the best things ever to hit the PS3.

They’ll likely stir some major nostalgia for a lot of older gamers out there that remember when arcade games were fixtures in bars and pool halls - back when the cabinets came complete with ashtrays and drink holders. But they haven’t stood the test of time as well as some other bona fide arcade classics.

There’s a lot more replay value to be found in here, and unlike the forgotten titles that have collected dust since you beat them, Geometry Wars: Galaxies is the sort of game that you’ll want to dive back into for another round (or ten) long after your first encounter.

Games this low-rent and unapologetically busted only come around a few times a year, but don't bother savoring this rare experience - Cruis'n is undoubtedly the worst Wii racer to date, and another blight on a franchise that has long suffered in home conversions.

With an eye toward putting on some beer goggles to make the game better, we turned to the bottle. Ping Cup has the potential to be a decent drinking game but, again, the controls were mixed.

Boogie isn't a bad concept - there's just nothing to it, and that's not a very positive sentiment.

If you've got the time and patience to prep, and an audience willing to go along for the ride, Master of Illusion could turn you and your DS into the hit of the holiday party.

It's the deceptive simplicity of Undertow that makes it compelling - that and the easy-to-learn rules and controls.

When we finished Mass Effect the first time, the very next thing we did was start it all over again. It's clear that this is the beginning of a fantastic franchise, and we're already salivating over the possibilities for "Mass Effect II."

If you're looking for some mindless monster mashing stick with the versus fight-focused PS2 or Wii versions or, better yet, revisit the arcade classic Rampage.

The experience is well worth its $170 asking price (for a guitar/drum/mic/game bundle, which is the only way you’ll be able to buy Rock Band for months anyway) and makes for one of the most rewarding co-op events you could ask for. This is the perfectly polished, logical extension of what Guitar Hero started and where the music genre needed to go. It just rocks.

The experience is well worth its $170 asking price (for a guitar/drum/mic/game bundle, which is the only way you’ll be able to buy Rock Band for months anyway) and makes for one of the most rewarding co-op events you could ask for. This is the perfectly polished, logical extension of what Guitar Hero started and where the music genre needed to go. It just rocks.

There’s a fun little onling game here; and while it’s not quite as deep or engrossing as other titles on the market, it’s still a blast to create a character, dress them up and kill a lot of stuff in a group with other people.

Soulcalibur Legends does offer some solid hack-'n-slash gaming that'll also make for a nice Wii tech demo to show your non-gaming friends and family over the holidays. But in the end, the title's appeal will likely expire before that half-drunk carton of egg nog sitting in your fridge.

With all the new bells and whistles, there's no way that fans of Retro Evolved could go wrong with this one. But even strangers to the series should give Geometry Wars: Galaxies a shot as they'd be hard pressed to find a more satisfying 2D shooter out there.

But with its new fangled attempt at first-person shootage - accompanied with awful zooming, crouching and strafing - makes TC4 a technical failure in addition to being exquisitely ugly.

It's not the breakthrough of medicine and motion controls it was last year, but Trauma Center: New Blood greatly improves on one of the Wii's best showcases.

We liked the setting, liked the gameplay but ultimately there wasn't enough to keep it in our console for a very long time.

We might be able to forgive the game its sin of unoriginality and consumer whoring, but we can’t forgive them for taking the fun out of shaving a sheep. Tacked-on, twitchy controls; lousy graphics and all-round dull gameplay fraught with mindless minigames tank any hope a would-be virtual farmer might have of actually having fun on a farm.

But unless you routinely wear your Federation uniform in public, you're probably not rabid enough to get your money's worth from this one.

Unless you routinely wear your Federation uniform in public, you're probably not rabid enough to get your money's worth from this one.

With more modes than you can shake a stick at and a rock-solid core basketball engine, it's a superb experience that collegiate hoopsters won't be able to tear themselves away from - even as they shake their fists in rage.

With more modes than you can shake a stick at and a rock-solid core basketball engine, it's a superb experience that collegiate hoopsters won't be able to tear themselves away from - even as they shake their fists in rage.

Only the hardest of the hardcore need send in their application for this college edition on the PS2; this year, it's next-gen or no need.

In spite of all the work that obviously went into crafting Uncharted, its gameplay comes up a bit short, turning key moments in its 8-to-10-hour run time into frustrating, repetitive slogs. Still, it's a lot of fun overall, and its cool pulp-fiction atmosphere and wildly entertaining story will keep you grinding through even when things get dull.

We jumped online on several occasions and it appears there are so few people playing online that we found the same dudes in a lobby on totally different nights. It’s little wonder though why there are so few soldiers playing; in this game, being a soldier sucks.

Even as a diversion for the younger set, this game just doesn't have any staying power.

Screwjumper is another one of those Live Arcade games that feels more like it should be a bonus mission in a more fully-realized title. And not a very good bonus mission, at that.

With its riveting story, beautiful visuals and surprisingly lifelike world, Assassin's Creed is an incredibly deep, enjoyable game that kept us addicted from beginning to bizarre end.

With its riveting story, beautiful visuals and surprisingly lifelike world, Assassin's Creed is an incredibly deep, enjoyable game that kept us addicted from beginning to bizarre end.

It still looks great on the aging hardware and accurately represents the popular anime/manga series, but the statute of limitations for similar last-gen sequels expires now - it's time for Atari to take this franchise to next-gen consoles and put some real force behind these extraordinary characters and settings.