If anything, it's these human train wrecks that help separate Untamed from other racers out there. The only game that comes close in terms of pure racing mayhem is probably Flatout: Ultimate Carnage.

If anything, it's these human train wrecks that help separate Untamed from other racers out there. The only game that comes close in terms of pure racing mayhem is probably Flatout: Ultimate Carnage.

It's almost like congratulating Adonal Foyle for working on a new move in the offseason while completely ignoring the fact that the rest of his game is downright awkward.

It's almost like congratulating Adonal Foyle for working on a new move in the offseason while completely ignoring the fact that the rest of his game is downright awkward.

There’s almost nothing about Super Swing that causes it to be mistaken for, say, Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf, but its strength is its nicely tuned swing mechanic that frankly puts Tiger’s woods and irons to the test.

Given its control troubles, bargain basement production values, and overly expensive price tag of $30, there is really nothing worth recommending in Winter Sports: The Ultimate Challenge.

BlackSite, which evolved from a light-gun coin-op game in the late 1990s, does its best to shadow "Halo 1"'s story in many respects, but regularly comes up short.

After learning the full extent of each faction's abilities, it really is pretty neat to completely adjust strategies based on both who you're playing as and against.

It's the very definition of "widescreen sci-fi," with its alien vistas, far-out music, and giant ideas. It begins with an ominous opening and ends with a fantastic finale that expertly intercuts between your individual actions with a massive space battle. It's the rare title where the first thing I did upon finishing was to select "new game."

IO's next big thing is a mish-mash of a few phenomenally great moments hidden inside a clusterf--- of nearly unplayable controls, bad level progression, unpredictable AI, and some seriously broken gameplay scenarios.

If anything, Rock Band serves as an almost perfect example of a game that caters to everyone, provided there’s interest in playing virtual instruments.

The uncomplicated, quick-hit arcade feel of the game is a nice fit for the Wii, even if the coin-op legacy sometimes makes the gameplay a little dusty.

Re-tuning Soulcalibur’s weapons combat for hack-and-slash duty is a great idea, but Legends just doesn’t have the chops to hold the attention of hardcore adventurers for long. Moreover, fighting gamers are just left out in the cold, although Soulcalibur fans may be driven to sate their curiosity.

Overall, this is a great game that no true Geometry Wars fan will want to miss—just be sure you have a classic controller on hand for true enjoyment.

Messing around with UT3 made me realize that I kind of miss this deliberate throwback to super-fast multiplayer.

For the experienced basketball fan, you're going to pop in this game and say to yourself, 'It's about time.'

For the experienced basketball fan, you're going to pop in this game and say to yourself, 'It's about time.'

This game is one of the most immersive gaming experiences I've had this year, and it's definitely a great reason to own a PS3. The mix of platforming and gunplay worked really well and left me craving the next title in the series.

The realistic physics and driving model works very well, but the setting and structure of the racing events ultimately brings it down.

When you get past the stealth-themed missions early on, and move onto missions with full use of tanks, helicopters, rockets, and airstrikes, the tactical gameplay plus the production values turn Crysis into a love letter for military combat.

A game that attempts a lot of major development moves and it shows a lot of promise, even if it isn't always executed well.

IO's next big thing is a mish-mash of a few phenomenally great moments hidden inside a clusterf--- of nearly unplayable controls, bad level progression, unpredictable AI, and some seriously broken gameplay scenarios.

A game that attempts a lot of major development moves and it shows a lot of promise, even if it isn't always executed well.

The good news is that once you do hop inside the ring, you tend to forget about who is missing as you try to figure out how you can slam your head into a steel cage or get hit in the back with barbed wire and not get hurt (you can't).

The good news is that once you do hop inside the ring, you tend to forget about who is missing as you try to figure out how you can slam your head into a steel cage or get hit in the back with barbed wire and not get hurt (you can't).

The sequence where you play as Albert Wesker right after he gets infected and takes on Lisa Trevor will undoubtedly be part of any RE fan's highlight reel.

IO's next big thing is a mish-mash of a few phenomenally great moments hidden inside a clusterf--- of nearly unplayable controls, bad level progression, unpredictable AI, and some seriously broken gameplay scenarios.

Smarty Pants does a decent job of continuing EA's agenda to make games that the whole family can play.

Happily, the gameplay avoids the trap of many dungeon-set games, which is that combat becomes repetitive and not very challenging.

Beowulf: The Game had an opportunity to be a standout movie licensed game. Unfortunately the glitching just made it looks sloppy and in need of work. I enjoyed a lot of the fighting elements they introduced here, and the development team deserves a pat on the back for that.

Beowulf: The Game had an opportunity to be a standout movie licensed game. Unfortunately the glitching just made it looks sloppy and in need of work. I enjoyed a lot of the fighting elements they introduced here, and the development team deserves a pat on the back for that.

Kudos to Aspyr for making a great port of the game and keeping all of the important aspects of the Guitar Hero III experience intact, including the online play, which is as simple as jumping into the online menu and challenging other guitar heroes. Still, if you can buy the console versions of the game, you're better off doing that.

There’s such a great deal of diversity throughout Super Mario Galaxy’s level design that it’s hard not to get excited when a new area opens, knowing that there’s a whole new set of puzzles and obstacles designed around the theme of the level...It’s because of these moments that Super Mario Galaxy generates a consistent level of excitement throughout the entire experience that few games can replicate.

BlackSite, which evolved from a light-gun coin-op game in the late 1990s, does its best to shadow "Halo 1"'s story in many respects, but regularly comes up short.

A hilarious little adventure game buoyed by riotous humor, intuitive puzzles, and original charm.

It's definitely not a sequel for EE fans, as its massive reduction is, quite frankly, insulting to anyone who liked the previous games.

I could go on and on how Mario & Sonic misses the mark in nearly every respect, but there’s really no point.

But if you're already a fan who bought Supreme Commander, this is a big fat middle finger from Gas Powered Games and THQ.

Neves is a simple game, but it offers quick-hit gameplay that leaves you feeling a bit smarter at the end of your time with it.

While all the added content is damn good, ironically, the greatest gameplay addition to this PC port is also responsible for one of the bigger annoyances: the interface.

The best part about Scene It is that you can get a bunch of achievement points! Sure, you may not know exactly why you're getting them every time, but if you can pad your GamerScore by 110 achievement points in under an hour, who cares if you understand how you get them!

Zombie Ninja Pro Am offers both bad graphics and gameplay, but it revels in its shoddy qualities as if to say, "Hell yes, we're bad. We're super bad!"

COD4 grips the imagination and finds a way to impact the player's emotions. And though we've seen a ton of games on similar subject matter, COD4 distinguishes itself with a washed-out gritty look and profound attention to detail. That same level of detail carries over to the online campaigns, which are just as vast and in-depth as anything found in the single player missions. From beginning to end--especially the end--COD4 is an amazing immersive experience.

COD4 grips the imagination and finds a way to impact the player's emotions. And though we've seen a ton of games on similar subject matter, COD4 distinguishes itself with a washed-out gritty look and profound attention to detail. That same level of detail carries over to the online campaigns, which are just as vast and in-depth as anything found in the single player missions. From beginning to end--especially the end--COD4 is an amazing immersive experience.

Flagship, despite whatever mistakes it's made with Hellgate, still taps into that addicted-to-loot gland in my cranium, and I am willing to put up with its flaws. It's now a matter of whether you want to put up with its somewhat unpolished nature at the moment, or wait until Flagship possibly smoothes out the warts that its little demon is showing.

If Ultima Online was essentially "immerse yourself in an alternate universe and live," then Tabula Rasa is a much more focused "jump into an alien world and fight."

The neat tweaks to the basic mouse-click combat gameplay, plus the interesting world and the fascinating moral decisions to be made, make The Witcher an extremely good export for PC RPG fans.

The clunky puzzles and mechanics often overwhelm any sort of enjoyment you might get out of confronting large squads of enemies, especially when the overall formula for the game follows a typical solve-the-puzzle-and-fight-wave-of-enemies-and-repeat design.

And this is where the 360 version has a distinct edge over the PlayStation 3 version; you can actually show off your customized creation in online fighting, which gives players an all-new reason to play the quest mode religiously.

Even with all these hiccups, there’s still a solid combination of adventuring and fighting to be found here. And the sense of progression--going from a lowly no-skilled friendless ninja to a super awesome friendless ninja--is handled well in terms of what powers you get and when you get them.

Ultimately, it’s all pretty basic stuff. There’s nothing particularly fancy about the actual game mechanics and it’s somewhat odd that The Simpsons Game makes fun of various videogame clichés (such as not being able to swim, using levers or pads on the ground to open doors) and then turns around and uses them about a dozen or so times.

Ultimately, it’s all pretty basic stuff. There’s nothing particularly fancy about the actual game mechanics and it’s somewhat odd that The Simpsons Game makes fun of various videogame clichés (such as not being able to swim, using levers or pads on the ground to open doors) and then turns around and uses them about a dozen or so times.

Manhunt has turned from a violent, yet solid stealth game into a mediocre stealth game with a clichéd story and toned-down ultraviolence.

Everything gels when I approach Battalion Wars 2 the way it’s meant to be played--slowly and methodically, like a real-time strategy game.

If you’re looking for the best version of the guitar peripheral, then the Wii version wins out. Not only does it have a more weighty feel to it, but it also rumbles when you kick into star power--pretty cool.

As far as the actual game goes, the Xbox 360 version is the best since it looks better and its online functionality is substantially smoother than that of the Wii version.

Unlike many squad-based shooters that don't require the use of the whole team, Jericho's premise relies on it. What's equally important is that each character is genuinely worth playing.

Unlike many squad-based shooters that don't require the use of the whole team, Jericho's premise relies on it. What's equally important is that each character is genuinely worth playing.

Unlike many squad-based shooters that don't require the use of the whole team, Jericho's premise relies on it. What's equally important is that each character is genuinely worth playing.

From the very first level, the God of War copying is all too apparent; in fact, the setup of the first scene mirrors the first scene in God of War II to a T!

From the very first level, the God of War copying is all too apparent; in fact, the setup of the first scene mirrors the first scene in God of War II to a T!

But what really got me taking momentary breaks from the action was coming to the realization of just how much I miss this type of Castlevania game.

The most solid, robust, and realistic Ace Combat game yet. Even if you're not into playing online, Fires of Liberation offers a hearty helping of intense, varied combat that will keep you coming back long after you've completed your first campaign.

It's really fun to pull back from the level and look at it as a whole; in fact, it kind of makes me wish that I could have physical playsets of each of these levels.

It'd be interesting to see what would happen if Capcom took this same mechanic and setup and actually created courtroom dramas that weren't goofy and crazy. Nevertheless, one has to appreciate Phoenix Wright just for the fairly unique niche it holds in the videogame space.

It's rare that a game critic feels the way I do about this game, but in all honesty, I find it really difficult to find something that's not to like. The controls feel great. The graphics look great. The score sounds great. The weapon selection alone make me want to play the game over and over again, just to test out all the cool offered.

In the end, the wacky storyline is deflated by the difficult controls in Victorious Boxers Revolution. If Cavia could have nailed at least one of the control schemes, then this game would have had much more appeal.

The 360 is much crisper in appearance, but you'll run across frame rate hiccups while you're playing.

A testament to the uniqueness and coolness of the new civilizations is that I can't pick a favorite side.

For parents, it's nice to have a gaming option that's not tied to licensing for yet another TV show. And the gameplay that is there fun and simple, so when the young gamer in the house does want to play multiplayer, it'll be entertaining for everyone.

For those who didn't check out the PlayStation 2 and PSP games, it will feel fresh and fun. For the rest of us? It's still fun, as long as you're not looking for much in the way of change.

Music Jam is definitely a step up from your average, crappy TV show turned even crappier platformer, but that’s like saying a car accident is better for you than a train wreck.

It drives me absolutely crazy when publishers slap the Saturday-morning-cartoon-like coat of paint over a game, thereby alienating most people over the age of eight.

Tony Hawk brings a mixture of joy and frustration to this reviewer. On the one hand, I still find I always have room to improve. On the other hand, this really is the same game we've been playing for nine years.

Tony Hawk brings a mixture of joy and frustration to this reviewer. On the one hand, I still find I always have room to improve. On the other hand, this really is the same game we've been playing for nine years.

One thing NBA 08 does do that the competition can't, though, is run at 60 frames per second at 1080p. Then again, when the players on the court aren't always acting like their real selves, what does it matter how much they look like them?

After playing through both the old and new stuff, I realized that there is one word that perfectly summarizes Valve: craft. Never mind that ballyhoo about whether games are capital-A art or not. Instead, put someone in front of a Valve game, and watch that person experience sheer craftsmanship. It seems that Valve just can't make a bad game.

After playing through both the old and new stuff, I realized that there is one word that perfectly summarizes Valve: craft. Never mind that ballyhoo about whether games are capital-A art or not. Instead, put someone in front of a Valve game, and watch that person experience sheer craftsmanship. It seems that Valve just can't make a bad game.

Revo is moderately fun at best. The sense of speed is decent. The sense of control, power, and precision per car is hard to distinguish for the majority of vehicles, and there is nothing wacky, silly, or distinct about the game that provides that creative hook that other racing games such as Daytona USA, Colin McRae Racing, or Gran Turismo provide. In short, Sega Rally Revo is disappointing.

Revo is moderately fun at best. The sense of speed is decent. The sense of control, power, and precision per car is hard to distinguish for the majority of vehicles, and there is nothing wacky, silly, or distinct about the game that provides that creative hook that other racing games such as Daytona USA, Colin McRae Racing, or Gran Turismo provide. In short, Sega Rally Revo is disappointing.

Even with significant flaws, it's still easily the best D&D game I've played since the power-duo of Baldur's Gate II and Planescape: Torment.

The deep customization will have users tweaking for hours, and the online options offer a serviceable distraction from the offline campaign. Anyone claiming the PSP has no games should probably take a look at this one.

From the wireless versus mode to the intriguing approach to the cutscenes, this classic revision really shines. And I've always said that turn-based games are well suited for handheld gaming.

The ingredients here--spooky creatures, fantasy worlds, exploration of death--all have a familiar ring to them. This looks like the kind of game that Neil Gaiman (a contemporary fantasy writer) would make if he created games.

Players are forced to think, pass, move, and shoot more like pro soccer players than ever before--giving long-time Winning Eleven fans pause for thought.

Rally racing is all about control, and the PSP's controls leave a lot to be desired. Perhaps that's not Sega's fault (it's Sony's), but the rally games and the PSP D-pad or analog stick are a bad, frustrating mix.

Off the Rails is a solid collection of minigames and a decent coaster creator, a nice party experience for the family. It's a shame the management system wasn't beefed up a bit more--even the little kids could benefit from creating their own theme parks from scratch.

Sense of speed is way too slow; items are useless; racing is clumsy.

The moment-to-moment, deep tactical gameplay is just that good. While games like Team Fortress 2 or Halo 3 are fantastic jump-in-and-play multiplayer experiences, Quake Wars is now the new king of tactical online multiplayer (apologies to Battlefield 2).

With so much content, from racing to destruction derbies to ragdoll bowling, this title will hold your attention for some time to come.

I can’t really remember the last time I had fun restarting a single race over and over and actually was excited about it because I knew that I was this close to having a perfect race--if only that stupid Ducati would just leave me alone.

If you keep your expectations low (really low), and if you liked games such as Lego Star Wars and TMNT, Friend or Foe won't be the bitter pill that Spider-Man 3 was.

If you keep your expectations low (really low), and if you liked games such as Lego Star Wars and TMNT, Friend or Foe won't be the bitter pill that Spider-Man 3 was.

A fantastic game. If you feel like a quick fix, you can hit up NBA blacktop mode and throw down some jams in a slam dunk contest out on the Vegas Strip (you can even jump over cars!). Want to head online? 2K8 features everything from leagues to two-player co-op play against the computer. Want to pause the game and gaze at Drew Gooden's patch on the back of his head? The choice (as strange as it may be) is yours.

A fantastic game. If you feel like a quick fix, you can hit up NBA blacktop mode and throw down some jams in a slam dunk contest out on the Vegas Strip (you can even jump over cars!). Want to head online? 2K8 features everything from leagues to two-player co-op play against the computer. Want to pause the game and gaze at Drew Gooden's patch on the back of his head? The choice (as strange as it may be) is yours.

Whether it’s making notes on the map screen using the stylus and yelling into the mic to expose the weakness of a sound-sensitive enemy or drawing symbols on doors, the Phantom Hourglass is a great way to show the kinds of things that the DS can do.

Post play is not only a viable option this year, it's my preferred way to score, and I really can't remember the last time that was true in a basketball game.

Post play is not only a viable option this year, it's my preferred way to score, and I really can't remember the last time that was true in a basketball game.