Rayman Raving Rabbids is a direct port of a game clearly designed for the Wii to platforms that don't even support the core appeal. It's sad now that the bunny that demos the Wii's controls before every event is replaced by... empty space.

Round 3's meaty punching action delivers more bone-crunching thrills than just about any other fighter out there. It won't go easy on you, but once you've risen to its punishing standards, this is pure, addictive, long-haul fun.

It lacks the emotional and technical "oomph" of its big-screen relatives, highlighted by the notoriously futzy control scheme that'll have you pulling out your hair. With that said, it's still one of the best shooters on the PSP, packing a serious challenge in an impressively sized campaign (not to mention some ad-hoc multiplayer) that'll keep you busy for awhile.

Okay, the story isn’t winning any Pulitzers, but Kirby Squeak Squad will certainly please the kiddies, yet may only whet the palate of those aching for the next great side-scrolling throwback.

Though you can't take this version on the road, if you like puzzles, you won't be able to put Mercury Meltdown Remix down.

Ultimately, Barnyard is an easy, mildly entertaining grab bag of minigames and missions. Kids will undoubtedly enjoy the game and their parents will find themselves sucked into numerous minigames as well.

Newcomers to the game will enjoy better introductions elsewhere despite the handy suggest-a-move trappings, and veterans don't get any chess puzzles to tickle their fancy, but at least you won't have to worry about losing pieces in the depths of your carry-on luggage.

A few months ago, "Company of Heroes" was a lock for RTS of the year. With Rise of the Witch-king, we're on the verge of flip-flopping. Seriously.

RoboBlitz may be a tad on the short side, but at around 15 bucks, the price of admission is perfect for the amount of fun you'll have with this game.

Monster Bomber provides a few different modes to enjoy the alien-popping action, but they all end up the same way - bursting aliens. It's precisely what you'd want out of such a game, but is so limited that anything more than a few plays stretched across several days might be too much.

Realistic? Yes. Fun? Not one bit. What's worse is that you have to sit and listen to the other fake players talk smack at the tables with the same four lines of speech. You'll be wise to quickly run to the Options menu and turn the sound off.

March of the Penguins is a horrendous mess of a game, horrible to play in every way, short of severing your hands at the wrists and squirting lemon on the stumps.

CCC Vol. 2 is only 20 bucks, which comes to $1 a game. Considering all of the classic arcade gameplay on this disc, it's an excellent value. We're not sure Capcom has enough material for yet another arcade collection, but if this is the last, then they'll have gone out on a high note.

Gorgeous cutscenes give Justice League the epic feel that an all-star block party deserves.

A good time when taken in small doses. The multiplayer mode is where the action really shines, so here’s hoping the community builds a bit more.

Be warned, though: this is the simplest Tony Hawk to date. We hardcore Hawk-ers are left with little more than finding all the Gaps for a hardcore, extended experience.

Like a real-time strategy on a console or a platformer on the PC, Fireteam Bravo 2 bears the burden of being a great game in the wrong medium. Still, as far as first person shooters go, it’s one of the best we’ve seen on the PSP so far and offers an excellent single player campaign with solid multiplayer action to boot.

Offers a metric ton of activities for you to engage in. The sheer variety is unheard of for this genre (on a console anyway), and it all works. That said, little of it is outstanding, and while all the pieces are in place, there isn't a single aspect of this game that will blow you away.

Offers a metric ton of activities for you to engage in. The sheer variety is unheard of for this genre (on a console anyway), and it all works. That said, little of it is outstanding, and while all the pieces are in place, there isn't a single aspect of this game that will blow you away.

For around 20 bucks you get a perfectly reasonable shooter, with a streamlined command system that actually works well. Although we’d still recommend getting a cheap copy of one of the various Conflict games instead.

But even as a flawed game, Murder on the Orient Express still manages to draw you in with lush environments, a stellar score and top-notch voice acting (which manage to make most of the protracted conversations at least marginally interesting).

Knights of the Nine isn’t in the same league as stellar Morrowind add-ons like "Tribunal" and "Bloodmoon" but any fresh reason to revisit the world of Oblivion once again is all right by us.

Knights of the Nine isn’t in the same league as stellar Morrowind add-ons like "Tribunal" and "Bloodmoon" but any fresh reason to revisit the world of Oblivion once again is all right by us.

It's not fun, and it drives so off course from the show that it should be embarrassed. Graphics are ugly, minigames are dull, and there just isn't any will to plow through this.

The targeting system sucks, often sticking to the enemy you just knocked down (and therefore can't attack until he gets up again) while another is bashing you in the back. The final aggravation is the camera, which constantly gets stuck on things in the environment, so you can't always see your foe.

Graphics, gameplay, atmosphere, all-important multiplayer... Rainbow Six Vegas gets pretty much everything right. It even shines on the little details, like wind whistling through a freshly shattered window or jackpot coins spilling out over a freshly bagged terrorist.

There's something ludicrously fun about having your home crowd scream "Brown buckets catch stink!" after you nail a three-pointer. We don't know what that really means, and it's probably in very poor taste, but it's funny as hell.

An average run-and-gunner that wouldn’t deserve a second look if it weren’t for its use of Wii’s unique controls. Pacing is horrible, with levels constantly being interrupted by overblown dialogue.

One of the most stirring, rewarding gaming experiences in history.

With no online play and only two-players a time, there's little chance people will still be revving up Excite Truck in a few month's time.

The game's meant to be a no-frills, no-pressure entry point into the Wii and its bizarre new way of playing videogames, and it's impressive that it manages to be a lot of fun at the same time.

Sorry to say it, but the Wii version's at the bottom of the list for Carbon. It's not redefining the street racing genre, but at times it can still hit a sweet spot blend of intensity, danger and style.

Few people will accuse Monster 4x4 World Circuit of being a good game, but it's been dressed up enough that it at least crawls out of the sub-mediocre sewer.

It's a well-made game that you can try again and again with numerous heroes and their plethora of powers. If you're a comic-book fan, this is probably the most satisfying videogame ever made for you.

Though a slowness to change and evolve hinders Tony Hawk Project 8's greatness, the developers sank a gargantuan lump of time into making the skating feel genuine, and it's enough to revitalize what is broadly the same game with a few newborn adoptions.

Disappointment about the lack of groundbreaking invention aside, Gunpey is a fun and intellectually interesting workout for your brain. If you're sick of falling blocks, or just need some new challenge to wrap the grey matter around, give it a go.

Disappointment about the lack of groundbreaking invention aside, Gunpey is a fun and intellectually interesting workout for brain and thumbs alike. If you're sick of falling blocks, or just need some new challenge to wrap the grey matter around, give it a go.

But, if you're buying this game because you honestly think it's going to make you smarter, it won't. And if you're buying this game because you actually think it's going to be fun, it isn't. That's really the bottom line.

But, if you're buying this game because you honestly think it's going to make you smarter, it won't. And if you're buying this game because you actually think it's going to be fun, it isn't. That's really the bottom line.

Unless you really, really dig old-school shooters that will take no more than a day to completely finish, this game isn't for you. Unfortunately, for what Platypus is, a thirty-dollar asking price is hard to accept.

Though Luxor is addictive, it ultimately lacks the oomph, variation and a multiplayer mode that would help to make it an all-around great game.

But with its clumsy combat, dim AI and generic plot, HoAE fails to add anything new to the already crowded fantasy based RTS genre.

As the name suggests, Rivals plays well against a friend. Racing the computer is cool, but costing your bud the race with a last-minute cheap shot is a whole lot better.

And gameplay wise, so what if Carbon isn't redefining the street racing genre - really, at this point, what could? It still hits a sweet spot of intensity, danger, and style.

Despite the lack of polish in the outer shell, the meat of the Sega Genesis Collection is mighty tasty and in the end that's all that matters. The price isn't half bad either.

The gameplay is nothing outstanding, but it's fun enough while it lasts, and overall it looks pretty slick.

Even without its wealth of extras, though, Tenkaichi 2 packs in a ton of fast, visceral and inexplicably addictive fighting action. Whether you're a fan of the series or you just want to punch a few guys through buildings, new Wii owners looking to scratch a fighting-game itch will want to check this out.

This lovingly preserved Defender's well worth the 400 Microsoft points. But there's more pure fun to be had for $5 in the Arcade - and what's the profit margin on 5% of Xbox 360 owners again?

Even on outdated hardware, it's impossible not to have a blast with SingStar Rocks.

The visuals are clean and smooth, the music's right on target and the motion controls generally function well (we had a few hiccups with slowing and stopping the ball).

If it seems like this has been one long bitch session about the game, it is. That's the deal with these types of RPGs - tons of uphill struggles and unaccommodating features that make the experience borderline miserable at times. But for some of us, the Fantasy followers and old-style gamers, it's nice to sneak in such a guilty pleasure in between all the over-produced RPGs that hold your hand every step of the way.

If you're a comic-book fan, this is probably the most satisfying videogame ever made for you.

Every installment has us hoping for a return to glory, but each one further craps on the hedgehog's legacy. The redeeming qualities here are few and far between, and it's just plain not fun.

Despite all of the frustration, however, Tomb Raider on DS can still be great fun at times - as long as you've got super-human patience and are prepared to squint a lot.

Manually controlling your lead blocker to open up a hole for your running back both makes up for years of imperfect AI-controlled blocking and feels great. So does using the Live Opponent feature to play franchise mode against another gamer instead of the CPU.

And if EA manages to add more defensive options and sturdier motion tracking, Wii could become the best place to play Madden in years.

Building on the already solid (if a little claustrophobic) linear design of previous installments, Call of Duty 3 introduces enough new tidbits to keep even the weariest veterans in the fight.

But if this was a test of the shooter on Nintendo's new box, it definitely passes. Revisions and experimentation will no doubt improve the experience, but for now those looking to migrate into Nintendo's new way to play won't be fully out of their element.

There's just enough racing mixed with the right amount of Hawk trickery to make it a successful new direction for the series that definitely has room to grow.

It's got looks, it's got brains, it's got a lot of stuff to shoot. It doesn't revolutionize the genre or even introduce much new, but Resistance remains an utterly solid shooter that should keep you entertained for quite a while.

When stacked against some of the PS3's other launch titles, Genji certainly looks impressive, but it almost feels more like a polished tech demo than a robust hack-and-slasher.

Xiaolin Showdown is a bad game, plain and simple. In a genre where speed and chaos is an important part of gameplay, Xiaolin Showdown’s fights are out and outright tedious.

Sporting an immense amount of notoriously addictive card wars, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force is a no-brainer for fans and a decent introduction for the curious. You could easily sink weeks into the game and still come nowhere near unlocking all of the goodies that are available.

What you'd expect from a Wii launch game: It gives you a sampler platter of uses for the console's new tech, with plenty of exaggerated movements and bite-sized variety that's best in small doses.

Even though a few aspects of Warhammer: Mark of Chaos aren't all that they could be, it nicely distills all of the best characteristics of the tabletop game. It's as close as you're going to get to the real thing without spending a fortune on miniatures.

From gameplay to graphics to sound, there's a lot to enjoy with Bionicle Heroes - just don't expect to be blown away. If you're a fan of action games or giant robots, this game is sure to keep you satisfied.

A fun - if entirely too short - music game with loads of personality and great tunes. It's just overpriced.

Tag matches still feel like handicap matches, mainly owing to the fact that your AI-controlled partner doesn't actually do all that much, even when you call for help.

A whole lot of fun, though, especially with some friends. The current generation of hardware isn’t dead yet; this is a great game to play as you wait for next year’s game on PS3.

This is easily the best-playing version of Tiger this year. It's just a shame that so much content had to be left out of the bag in order to land this year's shot on the green.

Difficulty is erratic overall, and some of the operations are infuriatingly tough on any skill level, even without your nurse constantly interrupting to point out how badly you're doing. Still, even though we occasionally had to pause to curse at the TV, we couldn't stop playing - we were addicted.

If you're reading this review, odds are good that you're probably a Naruto fan who already wants to buy this game and you just want to know what to expect. You'll like Uzumaki Chronicles - it's got all your favorite characters in beat-em-up gameplay that isn't half bad. But if you're not a fan of the series, there's nothing to see here.

The soundtrack is a shocking state of affairs, the cars sounding how you think mud would sound if it could talk and in the background is a Europop house soundtrack.

Yes, the action can get tedious over time, as you realize that strategy takes a back seat to cheap super-moves and quick fingers. But there's something here.

Yes, the action can get tedious over time, as you realize that strategy takes a back seat to cheap super-moves and quick fingers. But there's something here.

Basically the same game as the first Corner Shop, with different shops and minigames.

Online minigames and a decent selection of cars don’t save Pocket Racers from being one of the worst rubber-burners on Sony’s portable system.

In the end, you get six great games, and six mediocre ones. Not bad for 2,000 pennies, really.

Eragon's redundancy and simplicity just offers too few reasons to keep playing.

Eragon's redundancy and simplicity just offers too few reasons to keep playing.

Even casual gamers will breeze through this game in about five hours. You can replay levels to find all the hidden dragon eggs, but with unlockables consisting of mini-documentaries on the making of the game, replay value is very low for this title.

A decent little button masher. It also does a far better job in presenting a coherent story compared to its home console brethren - a small bone, sure, but to the delight of fans, and it gives noobs a reason to keep playing.

More frustrating than fun as we saved, loaded, and crashed our way through this epic, yet tedious title.

It looks, plays, and feels exactly like a quick, smooth, arcade-style basketball game from ten years ago, but with slightly next-gen graphics, and that can still be fun. But the game's only competitor looks better, plays smarter, and offers more game modes and adjustable options than can easily be counted.

At best, Civil War is a weekend rental for shooter fans, history buffs, or Achievement miners who aren't knee deep in this fall's blockbuster military games. Be prepared to learn a little and reload a lot - while the buckshot flies all around you.

A game system without a compelling game. You've got to love the smooth, easy-to-play combat, and at least appreciate the modes of play and the attempt to replicate card game realities like buying booster packs and unique cards to build killer custom decks. But there just isn't enough depth or Warhammer personality here to hold your interest for long.

Essentially a stew of can’t-miss features and less appetizing filler material. You already own it if you’re a Heroes diehard. It’s just too bad, for all Nival’s hard work and lovely animations, that its legs couldn’t be a little longer.

One of the best strategy games of the year, and arguably one of the best ever.

Midway took the one title with the most variety and replay value in the entire MK stable and shined it up nice. We’ll take it.

Dark Kingdom has its failings, but it still isn't "bad"; it's just old fashioned and disappointing, especially when compared to modern action RPGs like "Marvel Ultimate Alliance."

In a time when 2D platformers seem to be fading into gaming history, for fans of the SNES it's downright heartwarming to see a sequel that is true to the classic.

A bit of stylus-powered frog-in-a-ball rolling occasionally interrupts the bounding, but even this is clumsily controlled, with mad stroking more likely to erode your DS screen than get the spherical spawn of the devil to respond.

Although the core gameplay hasn't changed much in over ten years - Ridge Racer is as fun as ever. It runs as smooth as butter, and with the rare ability to be displayed at 1080p for HDTV owners, it's plenty pretty enough.

Cinemotion includes some wonderfully intuitive changes, and we like having the ability to perform sneaky drop passes.

This year, there's no finer hoops experience to be had on any console.

All of their energy seems to have been directed at making fantastic-looking robots that do interesting things, while everything else feels almost like an afterthought.

The platforming and token collecting can become repetitive, but overall the game does have a respectable amount of variety, with the inclusion of racing levels and 2D platforming.

A multiplayer co-op option would have been perfect for Avatar, but is sadly missing. Where the action becomes repetitive and tiresome, playing with friends would have at least added some opportunity to develop different strategies for larger melees and boss battles.